What type of testing is performed to expose defects in the interfaces and interactions between components?

Integration testing is focused on evaluating the interactions and interfaces between different components or systems. This type of testing is crucial because individual components may function correctly on their own, but issues can arise when they are combined and need to work together. The primary goal of integration testing is to identify defects that might occur due to discrepancies in how components communicate or interact with each other.

By testing these interfaces, integration testing helps ensure that the system as a whole operates as intended, successfully handling data exchanges and responding appropriately to inputs from various components. This process often involves both the integration of modules developed independently as well as checking how these modules collaborate to fulfill the requirements of the system.

In contrast, system testing checks the complete and integrated software product to evaluate whether it meets the specified requirements, while unit testing focuses on individual components in isolation. Acceptance testing, on the other hand, is typically the final stage where the system is validated against user needs and business requirements. Thus, integration testing is the appropriate choice for exposing defects specifically related to the interactions between components.