engineering Engineering is the practice of using natural science, mathematics, and the engineering design process to Problem solving#Engineering, solve problems within technology, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve Systems engineering, s ...

, a fault is a defect or problem in a system that causes it to fail or act abnormally. An example of this is the Windows fault screen, commonly referred to as the Blue Screen of Death (BSoD). The system actively monitors kernel-mode components. If the system determines that safe system operation is compromised, the system halts to reduce further damage. The

ISO The International Organization for Standardization (ISO ; ; ) is an independent, non-governmental, international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries. Me ...

document 10303-226 defines ''fault'' as an abnormal condition or defect at the component, equipment, or sub-system level which may lead to a

failure Failure is the social concept of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and is usually viewed as the opposite of success. The criteria for failure depends on context, and may be relative to a particular observer or belief system. On ...

. The United States Glossary of Telecommunication Terms defines ''fault'' for

telecommunications Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...

as: #An accidental condition that causes a functional unit to fail to perform its required function. See

#A defect that causes a reproducible or catastrophic malfunction. A malfunction is considered reproducible if it occurs consistently under the same circumstances. See . # In Electric power, power systems, an unintentional

short circuit A short circuit (sometimes abbreviated to short or s/c) is an electrical circuit that allows a current to travel along an unintended path with no or very low electrical impedance. This results in an excessive current flowing through the circuit ...

, or partial short circuit, between energized conductors or between an energized conductor and ground. A distinction can be made between symmetric and asymmetric faults. See

Fault (power engineering) In an electric power system, a fault is a defect that results in abnormality of electric current. A fault current is any abnormal electric current. For example, a short circuit in which a live wire touches a neutral or ground wire is a fault. An op ...

Random fault

A random fault occurs as a result of

wear Wear is the damaging, gradual removal or deformation of material at solid surfaces. Causes of wear can be mechanical (e.g., erosion) or chemical (e.g., corrosion). The study of wear and related processes is referred to as tribology. Wear in ...

or other deterioration. Since deterioration progresses somewhat randomly, predicting when a particular unit will develop a fault is not possible. However, the rate at which a particular fault occurs among a large number of units can often be predicted with significant accuracy. Manufacturers often accept random faults as a risk if the chances are virtually negligible. A fault can happen in virtually any object or appliance, most commonly with electronics and machinery. For example, an

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

console will deteriorate over time due to dust buildup in the fans. This will cause the Xbox to overheat, initiate the fault, or

error An error (from the Latin , meaning 'to wander'Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “error (n.), Etymology,” September 2023, .) is an inaccurate or incorrect action, thought, or judgement. In statistics, "error" refers to the difference between t ...

, and shut down the console.

Systematic fault

A Systematic fault results from an

design A design is the concept or proposal for an object, process, or system. The word ''design'' refers to something that is or has been intentionally created by a thinking agent, and is sometimes used to refer to the inherent nature of something ...

such that every copy has the same fault. Sometimes a systematic fault remains undetected for a long time even if many copies are in use. The fault might be triggered when conditions change and could fail in every copy at the same time.

Software Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...

can have faults, also referred to as bugs. When defining short-lived software faults, these are known as glitches. But since software cannot deteriorate, all faults are systematic.

References

Fault tolerance Technological failures {{Technology-stub it:Avaria

Random fault

Systematic fault

See also

References