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Isoiec 25010Edit

ISO/IEC 25010 is a cornerstone standard in the realm of software product quality, defining a structured model that translates abstract notions of quality into observable, testable attributes. As part of the ISO/IEC 25000 family—often discussed under the umbrella of the Systems and Software Quality Requirements and Evaluation (SQuaRE) framework—it provides a common vocabulary for buyers, developers, and evaluators. A market-oriented reading of the standard emphasizes clarity, interoperability, and accountability: when software quality is measured against a consistent model, consumers get better choices, and firms are incentivized to compete on true capability rather than marketing spin.

From a pragmatic, market-first perspective, ISO/IEC 25010 serves as a neutral yardstick that reduces information asymmetry in technology markets. It helps procurement bodies compare products on comparable attributes, lowers the friction of cross-platform integration, and encourages providers to design with clear performance targets. In practice, the model guides both product development and vendor assessment, so that features, reliability, security, and maintainability are evaluated with the same seriousness as price. For those exploring technical standards, the relationship between ISO/IEC 25010 and the broader SQuaRE suite—such as ISO/IEC 25000—is important, because it ties product quality to documented requirements, evaluation methods, and lifecycle considerations.

Overview

Background and scope

ISO/IEC 25010 defines a quality model for software products, separating the intrinsic properties of the product from how users experience it in real usage. This distinction matters in procurement and governance, where decision makers want objective criteria rather than vague impressions of quality. The standard complements other quality activities in software engineering, including testing, verification, and conformance assessment. It is commonly applied in contract specifications, vendor audits, and public procurement to ensure that software meets predictable criteria over its lifecycle. In this sense, the model supports competitive markets by making quality measurable and comparable across competing offerings.

The quality model defined by ISO/IEC 25010

The central contribution of ISO/IEC 25010 is a quality model built around eight principal characteristics. Each characteristic is further elaborated by subcharacteristics and specific criteria, enabling both high-level governance and detailed evaluation. The eight characteristics are:

functional suitability: The extent to which the software provides the correct functions to satisfy stated and implied needs.
performance efficiency: The resources required to perform its functions, including speed, responsiveness, and throughput relative to the workload.
compatibility: The software’s ability to operate with other systems and components without modification, including coexistence and interoperability.
usability: The effort required for use and the overall user experience, including learnability and operability.
reliability: The stability and predictability of the software under specified conditions over time.
security: The protection of information and data, as well as resilience to deliberate and accidental threats.
maintainability: The ease with which the software can be modified to correct faults, improve performance, or adapt to a changing environment.
portability: The ease with which the software can be transferred to a different hardware, software, or operational environment.

Each of these is treated as a quality objective that can be measured, tested, or assessed through established evaluation methods. The model also distinguishes between quality of the product (the software as built) and quality in use (the user’s experience and outcomes when using the software), with the latter aspect represented in related concepts such as quality in use.

Detailed characteristics

### Functional suitability

This attribute focuses on whether the software delivers the functions that users need, in the right way. It encompasses coverage, accuracy, and appropriateness of features. In procurement documents, functional suitability is often the first gatekeeper for whether a product is a viable baseline.

### Performance efficiency

Performance efficiency addresses how well the software uses resources like time, memory, and energy to deliver its functions. It is especially salient in environments with constrained hardware, high concurrency, or cost-sensitive operation.

### Compatibility

Compatibility concerns how well the software plays with other software and hardware in the ecosystem. This includes co-existence with other applications, as well as ability to integrate with existing systems and data formats. Compatibility is a practical proxy for avoiding costly integration work later in a project.

### Usability

Usability covers how easy and intuitive the software is to use, how quickly new users can become proficient, and how effectively the interface supports user goals. In a competitive market, strong usability translates into reduced training costs and higher user satisfaction, without requiring heavy-handed compliance regimes.

### Reliability

Reliability assesses the software’s ability to perform its functions under stated conditions for a specified period. It includes fault tolerance, recoverability, and the predictability of behavior, all of which influence operational risk and total cost of ownership.

### Security

Security addresses protection against threats to information assets and the ability to maintain confidentiality, integrity, and availability. In today’s digital economy, security is a foundation of trust and a practical driver of competitive advantage.

### Maintainability

Maintainability relates to how easily the software can be modified to fix faults, improve performance, or adapt to a changing environment. It affects long-term costs and the ability to respond to evolving user needs and regulatory requirements.

### Portability

Portability concerns the ease with which software can be moved to new environments, including different platforms, operating systems, or hardware configurations. Portability supports vendor independence and future-proofing of software investments.

Practical use and deployment

In practice, organizations use ISO/IEC 25010 to frame procurement criteria and to guide the design and testing process. For buyers, the model provides a checklist of attributes to verify in demonstrations, trials, or pilots. For developers, it offers a blueprint for building software with clear quality targets, guiding architectural decisions, testing strategies, and documentation. The standard’s emphasis on objective measurement supports competitive bidding and reduces the risk of overpromising that harms both customers and suppliers.

The model also intersects with related concepts such as quality model theory, software quality, and conformance assessment. In procurement contexts, references to ISO/IEC 25010 can be paired with governance and risk management frameworks to ensure that quality goals align with organizational policy and market expectations.

Controversies and debates (from a market-focused perspective)

Critics of over-regulation argue that stringent, formalized quality models can raise development costs and slow innovation. Proponents of ISO/IEC 25010 respond that the standard actually lowers risk and total cost of ownership by spelling out measurable criteria that prevent later disputes over “what counts as quality.” In markets that prize speed and experimentation, a flexible but explicit quality model helps startups and incumbents alike to communicate capabilities and prove value.
Some observers contend that standardization can become a checkbox exercise, encouraging compliance at the expense of genuine product improvement. The market-oriented view counters that when evaluation is tied to real-world attributes—such as reliability and security—organizations avoid chasing the lowest common denominator and instead strive for meaningful differentiation.
Debates around such standards sometimes touch on broader social policies, like accessibility and privacy. From a practical, cost-conscious standpoint, critics might worry that expanding quality requirements to cover broad social objectives increases development burden. Advocates would argue that core usability and security inherently support inclusive design and safer, more robust systems for all users. In this framing, the standard’s existing focus on usability and security is not at odds with responsible inclusion, and attempts to broaden quality criteria should be implemented with care to avoid stifling innovation.
Global adoption and jurisdictional differences present ongoing considerations. While ISO/IEC 25010 aims for universality, procurement regimes and regulatory expectations vary, potentially creating misalignment between a product’s quality claims and contract requirements. The right approach, in this sense, is to retain a clear, auditable quality model while allowing jurisdiction-specific tailoring for measurement, testing, and conformity assessment.

Adoption, limitations, and practical guidance

Organizations often adopt ISO/IEC 25010 as part of a broader strategy to manage software quality across the lifecycle. It integrates with procurement practices, development methodologies, and risk management processes. Limitations to be aware of include the possibility of misinterpretation of subcharacteristics, the need for credible measurement methods, and the resource implications of thorough evaluation in large, heterogeneous IT environments. When applied judiciously, the model helps teams avoid costly rework by providing early clarity about expectations and acceptance criteria.

In addition to internal development and procurement workflows, ISO/IEC 25010 interacts with related standards and practices, such as quality assurance, software testing, and risk assessment. It also informs discussions about interoperability and long-term maintainability, which are key to sustaining competitive software ecosystems.