Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test – 2026 Prep & Study Guide

The quality factor that relates to the amount of computing resources required by a program is efficiency. Efficiency encompasses how well a program utilizes system resources, including CPU time, memory usage, and other computing capabilities. A program that runs with high efficiency performs its operations using the least amount of resources necessary to achieve its intended functionality, which can lead to faster execution times and lower operational costs.

In contrast, correctness pertains to the accuracy of the program's outputs as compared to expected results. Reliability addresses the program's ability to perform consistently under predefined conditions without failure. Integrity refers to the protection of data from unauthorized access or corruption. While all these factors are important for software quality, efficiency specifically targets the resource consumption aspect of a program's performance.