What is the comprehensive process concerned with all lifecycle activities to evaluate software products to ensure they satisfy specified requirements?

The comprehensive process that addresses all lifecycle activities to evaluate software products to ensure they satisfy specified requirements is known as Testing. Testing encompasses a variety of activities that involve executing the software, assessing its functionality, and determining whether it aligns with the specified requirements.

This process ranges from the early stages of development, like unit testing, through to integration and system testing, and can even include acceptance testing at the end of the lifecycle. The ultimate goal of Testing is not only to identify defects but also to confirm that the software behaves as expected in different scenarios, ensuring quality throughout its lifecycle.

While Quality Assurance, Verification, and Validation are all important concepts related to software development and quality, they are distinct from Testing. Quality Assurance focuses on the processes and methodologies used to ensure quality, rather than directly testing the software. Verification and Validation pertain to confirming whether the product meets specified requirements and user needs, but they do not encompass the full breadth of activities involved in Testing, particularly the execution of tests and examination of results. Thus, Testing is recognized as the most comprehensive process in this context.