# Debugging pattern

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Set of steps to correct a software bug

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A **debugging pattern** describes a generic set of steps to rectify or correct a [bug](/source/Software_bug) within a software system. It is a solution to a recurring problem that is related to a particular bug or type of bug in a specific context.

A bug pattern is a particular type of pattern. The original concept of a pattern was introduced by the architect [Christopher Alexander](/source/Christopher_Alexander) as a [design pattern](/source/Design_pattern).

Some examples of debugging patterns include:

- Eliminate noise bug pattern – Isolate and expose a particular bug by eliminating all other [noise](/source/Noise) in the system. This enables you to concentrate on finding the real issue.

- Recurring bug pattern – Expose a bug via a [unit test](/source/Unit_test). Run that unit test as part of a standard build from that moment on. This ensure that the bug will not recur.

- Time-specific bug pattern – Expose the bug by writing a [continuous test](/source/Continuous_testing) that runs continuously and fails when an expected error occurs. This is useful for transient bugs.

## See also

- [Design pattern](/source/Design_pattern)

- [Architectural pattern (computer science)](/source/Architectural_pattern_(computer_science))

## External links

- [A Pattern Language for Software Debugging](https://stargroup.uwaterloo.ca/~mamouika/papers/pdf/IJCS.2006.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211202173806/https://stargroup.uwaterloo.ca/~mamouika/papers/pdf/IJCS.2006.pdf) 2021-12-02 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) ([PDF](/source/PDF))

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Debugging pattern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debugging_pattern) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debugging_pattern?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.