What does component testing typically focus on in a software development process?

Component testing focuses specifically on the functionality of individual components or units of a software application. This stage of testing is vital as it aims to verify that each component operates according to its specifications and behaves as expected in isolation from the rest of the system. By concentrating on the functionality, component testing allows for early identification of bugs and issues within the individual parts before they are integrated into a larger system.

This type of testing is typically carried out by developers and can include verifying the component's interfaces, ensuring it properly processes data, and checking that it meets predefined conditions and functional requirements. It is a foundational step in the software development lifecycle that supports more extensive testing phases that follow, like integration testing and system testing.

In contrast, the other options refer to different layers of testing in the software development process that occur after component testing. For instance, overall system integration evaluates how these components work together, user acceptance targets the end user's perspective of the final product, and performance under load assesses how well the system handles concurrent users and high levels of traffic. Each of these aspects is essential in its own right, but they are not the primary focus during the component testing phase.