defecten

Defecten is the Dutch term for defects; in English two terms: defect or defects. The plural defecten is used in Dutch-language technical and scientific writing to denote flaws, deviations from a standard, or imperfections that reduce value, function, safety, or performance.

In manufacturing and product development, defects are nonconformities identified in products, components, or processes. Quality control aims to minimize defect rates through inspection, testing, and process improvement. Methods such as defect tracking, root cause analysis, and Six Sigma are used to classify, measure, and prevent defects. Common metrics include defect density and failure rate.

In software, defects refer to incorrect or missing functionality. The defect lifecycle tracks reports from discovery to resolution, including triage, prioritization, fixing, and verification. Distinctions are sometimes drawn between defects, bugs, and issues, but in practice they are used variably across teams.

In materials science, defects are irregularities in crystal lattices, such as vacancies, interstitials, substitutional atoms, dislocations, and grain boundaries. They influence mechanical, electrical, and optical properties and can be engineered to tailor material behavior. Defect engineering seeks to control defect populations to achieve desirable performance.

In biology and medicine, congenital defects (birth defects) are structural or functional anomalies present at birth. They range from minor to life-threatening and are detected before or after birth. Terminology differentiates congenital defects from defects arising later in life.