What is maintenance testing?

Maintenance testing refers specifically to the process of testing a software system after it has been released and subsequently changed. This can include modifications, bug fixes, enhancements, and any other updates that may alter functionality. The primary goal of maintenance testing is to verify that the changes made to the system do not negatively impact its existing functionality—in other words, ensuring that any new changes work as intended while the previously existing features remain stable and reliable.

In this context, when a system is modified, it is crucial to conduct thorough testing to ensure that these adjustments have not introduced any new errors or regressions. This form of testing is vital, as software often faces iterative changes post-release, necessitating re-evaluation to maintain software quality over time.

The other answer options, while related to aspects of software testing, do not accurately capture the essence of maintenance testing as it is defined in the context of software quality assurance. For example, updating tests or user acceptance testing are important concepts but are not specific to the scenario of assessing changes made post-release.