What is an edge case? Meaning, examples in software development

Edge cases, defined as rare and unexpected scenarios that fall outside typical usage patterns, present significant challenges for product managers and developers in the product development process. They often emerge due to unpredictable user behavior, diverse user environments, incomplete requirements, product complexity, data variability, external factors, resource constraints, interoperability issues, human error, evolving use cases, and limited test coverage. Failure to identify these edge cases early can negatively impact the product's user experience, as demonstrated by hypothetical examples such as currency conversion errors or app crashes caused by specific emojis. To address edge cases, it is crucial to engage in thorough requirements gathering, well-prepared product requirements documents, scenario-based testing, iterative development, and beta testing with a diverse user base. By maintaining a balanced approach that values both typical and atypical user scenarios, teams can create robust products that effectively handle edge cases and enhance the overall user experience.