Which is not the testing objective?

The aim of testing is multifaceted, focusing on ensuring the quality and reliability of software. One key objective of testing is to find defects within the software. Identifying issues allows development teams to address them before the software is released to end users, thereby improving quality.

Another important objective is gaining confidence about the level of quality. Through testing, stakeholders can ascertain how well the product meets its requirements and performs in real-world scenarios, which supports informed decision-making regarding release readiness.

Additionally, testing plays a role in preventing defects by identifying potential weaknesses in the software design or requirements early in the development cycle. This proactive approach helps developers to mitigate risks and enhance code quality from the outset.

Debugging defects, however, is not considered a testing objective. Instead, debugging is a development activity focused on locating and fixing defects after they have been found during the testing process. The testing phase aims to uncover and report issues, while the debugging phase involves the actual resolution of these issues by developers. Thus, debugging is a separate process that supports the objectives of testing but does not constitute a goal of testing itself. This clarification highlights why the correct answer identifies debugging as not an objective of testing.