Chapter 2 – Testing Throughout the SDLC
Maintainability Testing – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
Testing to determine the ease with which a software product can be modified to correct defects, meet new requirements or improve performance.
In simple words
Check how easy it is for developers to change the code safely.
Exam tip
Maintainability is a non-functional quality characteristic in ISO 25010.
Related terms
- Non-Functional TestingHow fast, how secure, how usable, how reliable — the ‘qualities’ around the feature, not the feature itself.
- Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT)Ops team checks that the system is deployable, monitorable and recoverable.
- Technical DebtShortcuts in code that cost you extra time later to fix or work around.
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