What term describes the process of finding, analyzing, and removing the causes of failures in software?

The correct term that describes the process of finding, analyzing, and removing the causes of failures in software is debugging. Debugging is a critical activity in software development and testing, involving the identification of defects or bugs in the software, understanding why they occurred, and applying fixes to resolve these issues. It is primarily a developer-centric process, although testers may also engage in debugging to provide insights into where failures occur.

In the context of software engineering, debugging goes beyond just testing, which is more focused on executing the software to find defects rather than understanding their underlying causes. Validation is primarily concerned with ensuring that the software meets the requirements and is fit for use, while reviewing typically involves examining work products for issues but does not involve the active correction of failures. Thus, debugging is specifically aimed at addressing and rectifying errors, making it the most appropriate term for the described process.