What aspect does system testing validate?

System testing is a comprehensive level of testing conducted on a complete and integrated software system to evaluate its compliance with specified requirements. This type of testing is designed to check whether the system meets both functional and non-functional requirements as set out in the software specifications. During system testing, various test cases are executed to ensure the software behaves as expected in a real-world scenario.

The focus on validating compliance with specified requirements means that system testing assesses the overall capability of the software to deliver the desired outcomes, which is crucial for ensuring that it performs effectively in the intended environment. Thus, it encompasses a broad range of functional and non-functional criteria, confirming not only that the system functions correctly but also that it meets performance, usability, and security standards outlined during the development phase.

The other aspects listed—like the logic of individual algorithms, the efficiency of code execution, and the quality of documentation—are important in their own contexts. However, they pertain to different testing levels or stages, such as unit testing for algorithms and performance testing for efficiency. System testing, specifically, concentrates on the holistic evaluation of the entire system against its predefined requirements.