Chapter 5 – Test Management
ISO/IEC 9126 – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
The predecessor to ISO/IEC 25010; defined a software quality model with six characteristics.
In simple words
The old quality model — replaced by ISO 25010 but still cited.
Exam tip
If a syllabus mentions six quality characteristics, it's 9126; eight means 25010.
Related terms
- ISO/IEC 25010The reference model with 8 product quality characteristics and 5 quality-in-use characteristics.
- Quality ModelA structured checklist of what 'quality' means, so requirements and tests can target it.
- Non-Functional TestingHow fast, how secure, how usable, how reliable — the ‘qualities’ around the feature, not the feature itself.
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