What is the focus of software (quality) assurance?

The focus of software quality assurance is to ensure that the application fulfills its intended functions and is free of vulnerabilities. Quality assurance (QA) encompasses a systematic approach to evaluating and improving the processes involved in software development and maintenance. It emphasizes verifying that the software meets specified requirements and works as intended, which includes not only functional requirements but also non-functional aspects like security, performance, and reliability.

By focusing on these elements, QA helps in identifying potential issues and vulnerabilities early in the development process, thereby reducing the chances of defects in the final product. This rigorous testing and validation process is essential for delivering high-quality software that meets user expectations and maintains security standards. Quality assurance contributes to user trust and satisfaction by consistently delivering reliable and secure applications.

Other considerations such as maximizing performance or reducing software updates are important but fall outside the primary objective of QA, which is centered on function integrity and security. Providing ongoing technical support is a separate area and does not directly contribute to the assurance of software quality during the development lifecycle.