What does the testing phase primarily focus on?

The testing phase primarily focuses on ensuring the software functions correctly. This stage is critical in the software development life cycle as it involves systematically checking the software to identify any defects, bugs, or issues that hinder its operation. The objective is to validate that the software meets the specified requirements and works as intended in various scenarios and use cases.

During testing, various techniques are employed, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing. Each technique serves to evaluate different aspects of the software, such as individual components or the entire system's behavior, ensuring robustness, reliability, and performance under specified conditions. This validation is essential before moving the software into production, as it helps to ensure a positive experience for end users.

In contrast, gathering user requirements is focused on understanding what users need from the software, building the software is about developing the code and structure, and updating the software involves making changes or improvements after its initial deployment. These activities are necessary in the software development process but are separate from the primary goal of the testing phase.