How is reliability defined in the context of software products?

Reliability in the context of software products refers to the capability of the software to consistently perform its required functions under specified conditions over time. This definition emphasizes that the software must not only be functional but should also operate correctly and consistently when used as intended.

In practice, reliability is about confidence in the software system's performance and its ability to sustain a certain level of functionality without failure. It incorporates aspects such as availability, fault tolerance, and recoverability, ensuring that users can depend on the system to achieve its intended purpose without unexpected behavior under normal operating conditions.

By focusing on the specific scenarios in which the software is expected to operate, this definition aligns with best practices in software testing and quality assurance, where verifying the reliability of a product is a critical goal. This distinguishes it from other aspects like performance under load, change adaptability, and data integrity, which, while important, do not encapsulate the core meaning of reliability as it pertains to consistent functionality.