Software Quality
URL: https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/software-quality/at/2.html

Software quality can mean the characteristics a software product should have, the degree to which a product has them, and the processes, tools, and techniques used to achieve them.

The Guide notes that the term carries several meanings. Product characteristics, the degree to which a product has those characteristics, and the processes, tools, and techniques used to achieve them may all be called quality. A more recent definition of product quality is the capability of a software product to satisfy stated and implied needs under specified conditions. The knowledge area discusses the quality-management process and the quality-assurance process separately. Verification and validation, testing, and technical reviews and audits appear under the quality-assurance process.[^s1]


The Guide's top-level topics for this knowledge area are:

- Software Quality Fundamentals
- Software Quality Management Process
- Software Quality Assurance Process
- Software Quality Tools

Related standards listed in the Guide's appendix include [ISO/IEC/IEEE 90003:2018](https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/works/ieee-std-90003-2018.html).[^s1]

Updated: 2026-11-02

Relations:
- Broader concepts: Software Engineering https://knowledge.ivjn.us/en/concepts/software-engineering.html

Sources:
- Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK Guide) v4.0a https://ieeecs-media.computer.org/media/education/swebok/swebok-v4.pdf Chapter 12; Appendix B