What is the effect of testing on software quality?

Testing plays a crucial role in assessing software quality by providing valuable insights into its performance, functionality, and overall reliability. By executing a range of test cases and scenarios, testers can uncover defects and vulnerabilities, thereby allowing teams to evaluate the software's current state. The results of testing inform stakeholders about the identified issues and areas for improvement, essentially offering an indication of how well the software meets defined quality standards and requirements.

While testing can reveal significant information about quality, it does not ensure that the software is completely free of defects or conclusively define the overall quality. The nature of software means that it is often complex and subject to various unpredictable factors, so testing provides a snapshot rather than an absolute measure. It also does not directly improve quality but enables teams to address problems, thereby facilitating improvements through subsequent development actions. Thus, it effectively serves as an indicator rather than a guarantee or a definitive assessment of software quality.