Chapter 2 – Testing Throughout the SDLC
Maintenance Testing – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
Testing the changes to an operational system or the impact of a changed environment on an operational system.
In simple words
Testing done after go-live — patches, upgrades, migrations, retirements — to keep the running product safe.
Exam tip
Triggers include modification, migration and retirement; impact analysis feeds the maintenance test scope.
Related terms
- Regression TestingAfter any change — bug fix, new feature, config update — you re-run existing tests to make sure nothing that used to work has broken.
- Change-Related TestingUmbrella term for confirmation and regression testing — anything you run because something changed.
- Impact AnalysisBefore making a change, work out what else it will touch so you can plan tests and effort.
Practice this term in the ISTQB Mock Test
40 CTFL v4.0 questions, 60-minute timer, instant scoring and chapter-wise breakdown.
Practice in Mock Test