Which term refers to the ability of software to continue to function without failure?

The term that refers to the ability of software to continue to function without failure is reliability. Reliability is a critical quality in software engineering and testing, as it measures the probability that a system will operate correctly over a specified period and under given conditions. A reliable piece of software will consistently perform its intended functions without encountering failures, thus ensuring user trust and satisfaction.

To contextualize the other terms: robustness typically refers to the ability of software to handle errors or unexpected inputs gracefully, rather than failing outright. Maturity generally indicates the level of development and refinement a software has undergone, often relating to the number of releases or the level of stability it has achieved over time. Stability is closely related to how consistently a system operates in the presence of changes or errors, but it doesn't specifically denote the ongoing correct functionality over time like reliability does. Thus, while all these qualities contribute to overall software performance, reliability specifically captures the essence of continuous, failure-free operation.