criticality. (IEEE) The degree of impact that a requirement, module, error, fault, failure, or other item has on the
development or operation of a system. Syn: severity.
cyclomatic complexity. (1) (McCabe) The number of independent paths through a program. (2) (NBS) The
cyclomatic complexity of a program is equivalent to the number of decision statements plus 1.
error. (ISO) A discrepancy between a computed, observed, or measured value or condition and the true,
specified, or theoretically correct value or condition. See: anomaly, bug, defect, exception, and fault
error guessing. (NBS) Test data selection technique. The selection criterion is to pick values that seem likely to
cause errors. See: special test data; testing, special case.
error seeding. (IEEE) The process of intentionally adding known faults to those already in a computer program
for the purpose of monitoring the rate of detection and removal, and estimating the number of faults remaining in
the program. Contrast with mutation analysis.
exception. (IEEE) An event that causes suspension of normal program execution. Types include addressing
exception, data exception, operation exception, overflow exception, protection exception, and underflow
exception.
failure. (IEEE) The inability of a system or component to perform its required functions within specified
performance requirements. See: bug, crash, exception, fault.
fault. An incorrect step, process, or data definition in a computer program which causes the program to perform
in an unintended or unanticipated manner. See: bug, defect, error, exception.
quality assurance. (1) (ISO) The planned systematic activities necessary to ensure that a component, module,
or system conforms to established technical requirements. (2) All actions that are taken to ensure that a
development organization delivers products that meet performance requirements and adhere to standards and
procedures. (3) The policy, procedures, and systematic actions established in an enterprise for the purpose of
providing and maintaining some degree of confidence in data integrity and accuracy throughout the life cycle of
the data, which includes input, update, manipulation, and output. (4) (QA) The actions, planned and performed,
to provide confidence that all systems and components that influence the quality of the product are working as
expected individually and collectively.
quality assurance, software. (IEEE) (1) A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide
adequate confidence that an item or product conforms to established technical requirements. (2) A set of
activities designed to evaluate the process by which products are developed or manufactured.
quality control. The operational techniques and procedures used to achieve quality requirements.
review. (IEEE) A process or meeting during which a work product or set of work products, is presented to
project personnel, managers, users, customers, or other interested parties for comment or approval. Types
include code review, design review, formal qualification review, requirements review, test readiness review.
Contrast with audit, inspection. See: static analysis.
risk. (IEEE) A measure of the probability and severity of undesired effects. Often taken as the simple product of
probability and consequence.
risk assessment. (DOD) A comprehensive evaluation of the risk and its associated impact.
