Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

Which testing methodology provides insights into a system's maintainability?

1. Non-Functional Testing

2. Unit Testing

3. System Integration Testing

4. Functional Testing

The correct answer is: Non-Functional Testing

The correct answer focuses on non-functional testing, which encompasses various attributes of a software system, including maintainability. Non-functional testing is designed to evaluate how well a system meets criteria that are not related to specific functionalities. This includes performance, usability, security, and maintainability. Maintainability refers to how easily a software system can be modified to correct defects, improve performance, or adapt to changing requirements. Non-functional testing helps in assessing this attribute by examining aspects such as the modularity of the code, the clarity of documentation, and the adherence to coding standards. By conducting non-functional tests, organizations can identify potential challenges in maintaining the system and address these issues early in the development life cycle. The other testing methodologies primarily focus on different aspects. Unit testing primarily verifies the correctness of individual components, system integration testing focuses on the interaction between integrated components, and functional testing evaluates specific functionalities of the system. While all contribute to overall software quality, they do not specifically target maintainability as a primary objective.