What are the Software Quality Factors?

In defining the scope of testing, the risk factors become the basis or objective of testing. The objectives for many tests are associated with testing software quality factors. The software quality factors are attributes of the software that, if they are wanted and not present, pose a risk to the success of the software, and thus constitute a business risk. For example, if the software is not easy to use, the resulting processing may be incorrect. The definition of the software quality factors and determining their priority enables the test process to be logically constructed.


When software quality factors are considered in the development of the test strategy, results from testing successfully meet your objectives.

The primary purpose of applying software quality factors in a software development program is to improve the quality of the software product. Rather than simply measuring, the concepts are based on achieving a positive influence on the product, to improve its development.

How can we Identify Important Software Quality Factors?

Following Figure describes the Software Quality Factors defined by McCall.

Brief explanation of Eleven Important Software Quality Factors:

1) Correctness: Extent to which a program satisfies its specifications and fulfills the user's mission objectives.

2) Reliability: Extent to which a program can be expected to perform its intended function with required precision

3) Efficiency: The amount of computing resources and code required by a program to perform a function.

4) Integrity: Extent to which access to software or data by unauthorized persons can be controlled.

5) Usability: Effort required learning, operating, preparing input, and interpreting output of a program

6) Maintainability: Effort required locating and fixing an error in an operational program.

7) Testability: Effort required testing a program to ensure that it performs its intended function.

8) Flexibility: Effort required modifying an operational program.

9) Portability: Effort required to transfer software from one configuration to another.

10) Reusability: Extent to which a program can be used in other applications - related to the packaging and scope of the functions that programs perform.

11) Interoperability: Effort required to couple one system with another.

Tags: Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Software Testing, Software Quality Factors