Introduction
Application errors are inevitable—no matter how well-tested your software is, unexpected issues will arise. However, you can take proactive steps to reduce your application error rate and minimize the impact on users.
Two essential technologies that help achieve this are:
Error tracking – Collects and analyzes error data to identify root causes and prioritize fixes.
Application monitoring – Provides visibility into application performance, helping detect issues before they escalate into errors.
What Is Error Tracking?
Error tracking involves collecting, analyzing, and managing data about errors in your application. This helps in:
Identifying root causes
Prioritizing fixes
Measuring improvements over time
Key Data Collected by Error Tracking Tools:
Error type (e.g., runtime, syntax, network)
Stack trace (detailed error path)
User environment (OS, browser, device)
User actions leading to the error
Advanced error tracking tools also categorize and group similar errors, helping teams focus on the most critical issues.
What Is Application Monitoring?
Application monitoring tracks performance metrics to detect potential issues before they cause errors.
Key Metrics Monitored:
CPU & memory usage
Response times
Error rates
Resource usage (disk space, network bandwidth)
Monitoring tools can also track specific components (web servers, databases, APIs), helping identify bottlenecks and optimize performance.
How to Use Error Tracking & Monitoring to Improve Error Rate
Deploy an Error Tracking Tool
Collect and analyze error data to identify patterns.
Prioritize fixes based on impact and frequency.
Use Application Monitoring Proactively
Detect anomalies (e.g., sudden CPU spikes, slow queries) before they cause errors.
Prioritize Fixes Strategically
Focus on high-impact errors affecting user experience.
Fix Errors Quickly
The longer an error persists, the more users are affected.
Track Fix Effectiveness
Verify if error rates drop after deploying fixes.
Benefits of Reducing Application Errors
✅ Higher user satisfaction – Fewer errors mean a smoother experience.
✅ Lower support costs – Reduced ticket volume from frustrated users.
✅ Better performance – Optimized code leads to faster response times.
✅ Reduced security risks – Many vulnerabilities stem from unhandled errors.
Additional Tips for a More Reliable Application
✔ Write high-quality code – Follow best practices like unit testing and code reviews.
✔ Monitor production environments – Real-world usage often reveals unexpected issues.
✔ Use version control – Track changes and roll back if needed.
✔ Have a rollback plan – Quickly revert problematic updates.