Is QA a test or QC?

QA (Quality Assurance) is neither a test nor QC (Quality Control). Instead, QA is a process-oriented approach that focuses on ensuring that the processes used during software development are designed and followed in a way that results in a high-quality product. QA aims to prevent defects by improving the development processes, standards, and methodologies.

On the other hand:

QC (Quality Control) is a product-oriented activity that focuses on detecting defects in the software by performing various tests (manual or automated). QC ensures that the product meets the specified requirements and is free of defects before it is released.

QA vs. QC:

Aspect	QA (Quality Assurance)	QC (Quality Control)
Focus	Focuses on process improvement to prevent defects.	Focuses on detecting defects in the actual product.
Type of Activity	Preventive: Ensures that processes are followed correctly to avoid defects.	Corrective: Identifies and fixes defects in the product.
Goal	To improve processes so that the software is developed correctly.	To ensure the software works as intended by finding defects.
Scope	Covers the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC).	Focuses primarily on the testing phase of the product.
Methods	Process definition, audits, training, reviews.	Testing, inspections, defect tracking.

Conclusion:

QA (Quality Assurance) is process-focused and works to prevent defects by improving the overall development process.
QC (Quality Control) is product-focused and involves testing to identify and fix defects in the software.
Testing is a part of QC, which is ultimately a part of the broader QA process.

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