Software Engineering basics - Software Quality

What is Software Quality?

Software quality means how good a software product is — in terms of how well it works, how easy it is to use, how secure it is, and whether it meets the needs of the people using it.

It answers questions like:

• Does the software do what it's supposed to do?

• Is it easy to use?

• Does it have bugs or errors?

• Can it handle a lot of users without crashing?

Why is Software Quality Important?

High-quality software:

• Works properly with few or no bugs

• Is reliable and doesn’t crash

• Is secure and protects user data

• Is easy to maintain and update

• Satisfies the needs of users

Poor-quality software can lead to problems like system failures, unhappy users, security breaches, and extra cost for fixing issues.

Attributes of Software Quality

Here are some important characteristics:

1. Functionality

   • Does the software do what it's supposed to do?

2. Reliability

   • Can it run without crashing? Is it stable over time?

3. Usability

   • Is it easy to learn and use?

4. Efficiency

   • Does it run quickly and use computer resources wisely?

5. Maintainability

   • Can it be easily fixed or improved in the future?

6. Portability

   • Can it work on different devices or operating systems?

Example

Let’s say you create a mobile app for taking notes:

• If the app saves notes correctly — that’s functionality.

• If it doesn’t crash — that’s reliability.

• If users can figure out how to use it quickly — that’s usability.

• If it opens fast and doesn’t drain the battery — that’s efficiency.

All of these together determine the quality of your app.

Software quality means how well a software product works and how well it meets users' needs. Good quality software is reliable, efficient, easy to use, secure, and easy to maintain.