# How to Report a Bug in Abseil C++: The Complete Guide

> Report a bug in Abseil C++ effectively. Follow our guide to submit detailed issues using the bug report template on GitHub for faster resolution.

- Repository: [Abseil/abseil-cpp](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-07-19

---

**To report a bug in Abseil C++, submit a structured issue using the Bug Report template at [`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml), providing details on the failure, reproduction steps, version, OS, compiler, and build system after signing the Contributor License Agreement (CLA).**

Reporting a bug in the **Abseil C++** library requires following a standardized process defined in the repository's contributor guidelines. The `abseil/abseil-cpp` repository on GitHub enforces a specific template to ensure every report contains the necessary technical details for maintainers to reproduce and triage issues efficiently.

## Prerequisites: Contributor License Agreement

Before creating any issue, you must sign the **Contributor License Agreement (CLA)** as documented in [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md). The Abseil project requires this for all submissions because every bug report may evolve into a code change that requires legal clearance for contribution.

## Using the Bug Report Template

When you click **"New issue"** in the repository, select the **Bug Report** template defined in [`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml). This template enforces seven required fields that capture the complete context of the failure.

### What Happened?

Provide a concise description of the observed failure and the expected behavior. Clearly distinguish between the actual output and what you anticipated the library to return.

### Steps to Reproduce

Include exact code snippets, `BUILD` or [`CMakeLists.txt`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/CMakeLists.txt) excerpts, and the precise commands used to compile and run the example. Links to a minimal repository branch or a Godbolt URL significantly accelerate the debugging process.

### Version

Specify the exact commit SHA by running `git rev-parse HEAD` in your local repository, or identify the specific LTS release you are using. This ensures maintainers can checkout the identical code state.

### Operating System

Include the distribution name and version for Linux, or the specific version of macOS or Windows where the bug manifests.

### Compiler

Provide the output of `gcc -v`, `clang -v`, or the equivalent command for your compiler toolchain to document the exact compiler version and target architecture.

### Build System

State whether you are using **Bazel** or **CMake**, and include the output of `bazel --version` or `cmake --version` respectively.

### Additional Context

Use this optional field for free-form notes such as references to related GitHub issues, error logs, stack traces, or historical context about when the regression appeared.

## Example Bug Report Format

Below is a minimal example of a properly formatted bug report body that satisfies all required fields. Replace the placeholder sections with your actual data.

```markdown
**What happened**
The `absl::StrCat` function returns an empty string when concatenating a literal with an `absl::Cord`.

**Steps to reproduce**

```cpp
#include "absl/strings/str_cat.h"
#include "absl/strings/cord.h"

int main() {
  absl::Cord c("world");
  std::string s = absl::StrCat("hello ", c);
  std::cout << s << "\n";  // Expected: "hello world", got: ""
}

```

Build with:

```bash
bazel build //:my_test
bazel run //:my_test

```

**Version**
`git rev-parse HEAD` → `6f9c2d3a3b9e5c7a1e2f3d4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d`

**Operating system**
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

**Compiler**
`gcc -v` → GCC 11.3.0

**Build system**
Bazel 5.3.0

**Additional context**
This regression appears after updating to the latest `absl::Cord` implementation (see [commit 6f9c2d3](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/commit/6f9c2d3a3b9e5c7a1e2f3d4b5c6d7e8f9a0b1c2d)).

```

## Locating the Issue Templates

The repository organizes its issue workflow through several key configuration files:

- **[`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml)** – Defines the required fields and validation rules for bug reports.
- **[`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)** – Explains the CLA requirement and best practices for submitting issues and patches.
- **[`ABSEIL_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/ABSEIL_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md)** – Provides the overall issue-template framework and metadata used by the repository.

## Summary

- Sign the **Contributor License Agreement (CLA)** before filing any issue in `abseil/abseil-cpp`.
- Use the structured **Bug Report template** located at [`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml).
- Provide complete **reproduction steps** with code snippets and build configuration files.
- Include the **commit SHA** (`git rev-parse HEAD`), operating system version, compiler version (`gcc -v` or `clang -v`), and build system version (`bazel --version` or `cmake --version`).
- Reference related commits or issues in the **Additional context** field to help triage.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Do I need to sign a CLA to report a bug in Abseil C++?

Yes. According to [`CONTRIBUTING.md`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md), you must sign the Contributor License Agreement before submitting a bug report because every issue may evolve into a code change that requires the CLA.

### What information is required in the Abseil C++ bug report template?

The template requires seven specific fields: what happened, steps to reproduce, version (commit SHA or LTS), operating system, compiler details, build system version, and optional additional context.

### Where is the Abseil C++ bug report template located?

The template configuration is stored at [`.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/00-bug_report.yml) in the repository root, with supplementary framework documentation in [`ABSEIL_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/ABSEIL_ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md).

### Can I report Abseil C++ bugs if I use CMake instead of Bazel?

Yes. The bug report template accepts either build system. Simply specify your **CMake** version using `cmake --version` and include relevant [`CMakeLists.txt`](https://github.com/abseil/abseil-cpp/blob/main/CMakeLists.txt) excerpts in your reproduction steps.