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I am looking for a formal definition of software quality.

It is my understanding that ISO 25000 is intended to provide or measure the quality of a piece of software, but it doesn't appear ready yet and I can't tell if it specifically contains such a definiton.

Currently ISO 9126 did contain one such definition, but my understanding is that it is being replaced with ISO 25000.

So I ask, is there are formal definition of software quality?

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Are you looking for any formal standards, or any that work or are useful? The latter is virtually impossible, because doing so essentially demands the ability to mechanize the process of good judgment, something out of the range of any process people can currently conceive. – whatsisname Nov 25 '12 at 6:43

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I do not have the access the norms but the drafts from 2010 are available. As far as I know, the definition is the same as for ISO 9126:

ISO 9126

The totality of features and characteristics of a software product that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.

In one document I saw "an entity" instead of the "software product".

This answer is based on research without seeing the norms, so everyone please correct me if needed.

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