Efficiency
Efficiency is the degree to which desired results are achieved using the least possible time, effort, or resources.
“The degree to which resources are expended in relation to results achieved.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Efficiency?
Efficient testing balances quality with cost by minimizing wasted effort while still achieving testing objectives.
Resource optimization: Efficient processes reduce unnecessary work.
Performance perspective: Efficiency can also describe how well software uses system resources.
Continuous improvement: Teams improve efficiency by automating repetitive activities.
Real World Example
A regulated product team is preparing a release where Efficiency appears in reviews, test design conversations, or defect triage rather than as an isolated glossary word.
The risk is that the team treats Efficiency as interchangeable with nearby ISTQB terms. That makes test scope blurry and can lead to weak evidence for the release decision.
The tester anchors the discussion in the official definition, asks where the concept appears in the product, and designs examples that show the difference between Efficiency and similar ideas.
The page becomes useful in practice because Efficiency is connected to a specific testing decision, not memorized as a detached definition.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Efficiency in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Efficiency to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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