What is the overall goal of software testing?

The overall goal of software testing is to ensure that the software meets the specified requirements and works as the stakeholders intend. This involves verifying that the system performs the functions it is designed to perform, adhering to user expectations, and fulfilling both functional and non-functional requirements.

This goal encompasses various activities, including validating that the software behaves as specified in its requirements, identifying discrepancies, and confirming that the system provides a satisfactory user experience. Effectively, testing serves as a means to gain confidence in the software's quality before its release to users.

While finding defects is part of the testing process, the goal is not solely to uncover every flaw but rather to confirm that the software is fit for its intended use. Establishing performance benchmarks and measuring customer satisfaction are important aspects of the software lifecycle but do not capture the primary aim of testing, which is ensuring that the software operates per requirements and under the conditions for which it was developed.