What is the term for a scale used for measurement in software testing?

The term that describes a scale used for measurement in software testing is a metric. Metrics are quantitative measures that assess various aspects of software development and testing, such as code coverage, defect density, and test case execution rates. They provide valuable insights into the quality and performance of the software application and help in tracking progress, making informed decisions, and improving processes over time.

While terms like index, benchmark, and statistic relate to measurement in various contexts, they have specific meanings that do not align with the primary definition of a scale used for measurement within the software testing domain. An index typically refers to a way of organizing or summarizing data, a benchmark serves as a standard or point of reference against which things may be compared or assessed, and a statistic is a numerical value that summarizes data from a sample or population. In contrast, a metric specifically targets the quantifiable aspects crucial for evaluating software quality and testing effectiveness.