Which of the following are valid test objectives?

The correct choice highlights valid test objectives by encompassing three essential goals of software testing: finding defects, gaining confidence about quality, and preventing defects.

Finding defects is a foundational objective of testing, as identifying issues in the software helps improve its quality before release. This aspect is crucial for ensuring that the final product performs as intended and meets user expectations.

Gaining confidence about quality is also a significant objective. Through systematic testing, stakeholders can establish a level of assurance that the software behaves as required and meets defined specifications. This becomes especially important when making decisions about releasing or deploying the software.

Preventing defects involves implementing processes and practices that aim to avoid issues in the first place. By learning from past defects and adjusting development practices accordingly, testers can contribute to overall software quality and reliability.

Other choices include elements that do not align with recognized objectives in software testing. For example, debugging typically refers to the process of identifying and fixing defects rather than being a goal of testing itself. Therefore, the combination of finding defects, gaining confidence about quality, and preventing defects provides a comprehensive understanding of what effective testing aims to achieve.