For what purpose is maintenance testing primarily used?

Maintenance testing is primarily utilized to ensure that enhancements or modifications made to an existing operational system do not negatively impact its current functionality. As systems are in use over time, they often require updates, which may include adding new features, optimizing performance, or altering existing functionalities to meet changing user needs or business strategies.

The goal of maintenance testing is to verify that these planned enhancements are implemented correctly and that the system continues to operate as expected after changes have been made. This includes testing for regression to confirm that the new changes have not introduced new defects or compromised existing features. Therefore, the emphasis on planned enhancements captures the essence of maintenance testing, ensuring that any updates improve the system while maintaining its reliability and stability.