Bugzilla is one example of a class of programs called "Defect Tracking Systems", or, more commonly, "Bug-Tracking Systems". Defect Tracking Systems allow individual or groups of developers to keep track of outstanding bugs in their product effectively. It can easily be used as a full help desk system.

Bugzilla has matured immensely, and now boasts many advanced features. These include:

- integrated, product-based granular security schema
- inter-bug dependencies and dependency graphing
- advanced reporting capabilities
- a robust, stable RDBMS back-end
- extensive configurability
- a very well-understood and well-thought-out natural bug resolution protocol
- email, XML, console, and HTTP APIs
- available integration with automated software configuration management systems, including Perforce and CVS (through the Bugzilla email interface and checkin/checkout scripts)