crashfaults

Crashfaults are a term used in software development to describe specific types of programming errors that lead to a program's unexpected termination or "crash." These faults are often the result of logical inconsistencies or resource management issues within the code. Common examples include null pointer dereferences, where the program attempts to access memory through an invalid pointer, and buffer overflows, where data is written beyond the allocated memory space, potentially corrupting other data or code.

Identifying and fixing crashfaults is a crucial part of the software development lifecycle, often involving debugging tools and rigorous testing. These faults can arise from various causes, such as incorrect handling of user input, race conditions in multithreaded applications, or improper use of system resources like memory or file handles. The severity of a crashfault can range from a minor inconvenience to a critical system failure, depending on the program's function and the nature of the fault. Developers employ techniques like static analysis, dynamic analysis, and code reviews to prevent and detect crashfaults before they impact end-users.