What is quality control in software development?

Software today is everywhere—quietly driving your phone apps, turbocharging your bank’s backend, and even monitoring ICU vitals. But here’s the million-dollar question: How do we make sure all this software doesn’t go haywire at the worst possible moment?

Enter quality control (QC).

Think of QC as the spellchecker of software development—except instead of catching typos, it’s out there spotting bugs, inconsistencies, and compliance gaps before they derail your release. In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of software quality control, why it matters, how to apply it, and how it plays out in different industries.

QC is hands-on. It’s code-deep. And it’s your last line of defense before your users get their hands on your product.

What is quality control?

Quality control in software development is a systematic process aimed at ensuring the final product meets predefined standards. It involves testing, reviewing, and validating software components to detect defects and ensure compliance with quality requirements.

In software, QC focuses on the product. The goal? Spotting bugs, performance issues, and compliance flaws after the code is written but before it’s released. This involves unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and even user acceptance testing.

It’s hands-on. It’s code-deep. And it’s your last line of defense before your users get their hands on your product.

Quality control vs. software testing

This one trips up a lot of folks. While testing is a major component of QC, they are not the same.

• Software testing is a tool or technique.
• Quality control is a broader umbrella—a set of activities aimed at validating the product.

In other words, all testing is quality control, but not all quality control is testing.

Why is quality control important?

You wouldn’t drive a car that hasn’t been test driven, right? The same goes for shipping software. Without QC:

• Bugs slip into production.
• Customers encounter usability issues.
• Compliance risks skyrocket.
• Costs to fix issues post-release can balloon by 10x or more.

Plus, with software powering everything from hospital machines to banking apps, the stakes are too high for “let’s hope it works” development. QC is about trust—the trust your users place in your software to do what it promises, reliably.

Core principles of quality control

Having QC in place means there’s a documented, repeatable way to:

• Validate code correctness
• Ensure functionality matches specs
• Meet security and compliance standards
• Confirm performance under load

It’s proactive, not reactive. Instead of chasing fires, you’re preventing them.

How to make sure quality control is present in an organization

Here’s how you bake QC into your dev DNA:

• Standardize testing protocols: Use consistent test cases and automation where possible.
• Shift left: Start testing early in the development cycle.
• Use integrated toolchains: For example, Tricentis Test Automation for unified, scalable testing.
• Enforce peer reviews: Catch logic flaws early with collaborative code reviews.
• Track metrics: Defect rates, coverage, test pass ratios—if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.

Frameworks and standards

Common frameworks and standards for software QC include:

• ISO 9001: Sets criteria for quality management systems.
• IEEE 829: Offers a standardized format for test documentation.
• CMMI: Maturity model that includes quality management practices.
• Agile/DevOps methodologies: Promote continuous testing and delivery.

Pro tip: Embed QC into your CI/CD pipeline to catch defects the moment they appear.

Quality control in different software industries

Here’s how QC is found in the most common software industries.

Healthcare

Life-and-death stakes mean rigorous quality checks. For instance, Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems undergo extensive validation to comply with HIPAA and FDA regulations.

Finance

One decimal in the wrong place can wreak havoc. Financial software uses strict QC to ensure compliance with SOX, PCI DSS, and SEC regulations.

E-commerce

Here, the name of the game is performance under pressure. QC ensures that shopping carts don’t crash on Black Friday and that sensitive data stays secure.

Web and mobile

Usability and cross-device functionality are critical. Browser compatibility testing, load testing, and mobile responsiveness are all part of the QC toolkit.

There are plenty more industries where QC is essential to their integrity and value. You can find more in our learn section.

Early detection is the name of the game.

Benefits of implementing quality control

Implementing a structured quality control (QC) process in software development might seem like adding extra layers of overhead—but in reality, it’s a performance booster in disguise. Here’s how quality control pays dividends across the development life cycle and the business bottom line:

Fewer post-release bugs and hotfixes

Early detection is the name of the game. By identifying defects during development, you avoid the late-stage scramble to patch issues after release. Not only does this protect your brand, but it also frees up your developers to focus on innovation rather than damage control.

Faster release cycles with less rework

Time spent up front on QC results in less time spent redoing work later. Automated testing, regression checks, and integration validation allow teams to move quickly—and with confidence. You can release more often, and with fewer surprises.

When combined with DevOps and CI/CD pipelines, quality control enables continuous delivery without compromising stability.

Higher customer satisfaction and retention

No one likes buggy software. When your product works as promised, users trust it—and stick with it. Fewer crashes, faster load times, and smoother interactions all translate to better user experience, positive reviews, and loyal customers.

Stronger compliance and risk mitigation

Regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and insurance can’t afford compliance slip-ups. QC helps ensure your product meets industry-specific regulations (HIPAA, SOX, PCI DSS, etc.) and avoids legal exposure. Automated audits, traceable test cases, and documented outcomes are vital components of compliance readiness.

Better cross-team alignment

QC isn’t just a QA department function anymore. With modern tools and methodologies, developers, testers, business analysts, and product owners can all collaborate in the quality process. Shared dashboards, test coverage analytics, and automated alerts foster transparency and unity.

When your product works as promised, users trust it—and stick with it.

Higher return on investment (ROI)

Investing in quality up front pays off exponentially. Every dollar spent preventing a bug saves many more in support tickets, churned customers, and patch cycles. Plus, companies known for quality tend to command better pricing, stronger market positions, and greater investor confidence.

Scalability and long-term agility

When your QC processes are rock-solid and repeatable, scaling your product—or your business—becomes a whole lot easier. Whether you’re supporting 10 users or 10 million, quality control ensures your architecture, APIs, and UX scale smoothly and sustainably.

As the old saying by Henry Ford goes: “Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.”

How Tricentis supports software quality control

Tricentis isn’t just keeping up with quality control—it’s leading the charge.

Whether you are testing a complex ERP upgrade or ensuring your web apps stay flawless across browsers, Tricentis provides an intelligent, automated testing platform purpose-built for modern software development.

Here’s how Tricentis tools raise the QC game:

• Model-based test automation: Tricentis Tosca eliminates brittle, script-heavy tests and replaces them with resilient, reusable models.
• Scalable performance testing: Tricentis NeoLoad ensures your software performs reliably, even under heavy load.
• Test management at enterprise scale: Tricentis Test Management for Jira keeps Agile teams aligned and audit-ready.
• End-to-end visibility: Through Tricentis qTest, teams can plan, track, and analyze all testing activities in real time.
• AI-powered analytics: Spot risk faster, understand root causes, and optimize your test suite using data-driven insights.

Best of all? These tools integrate seamlessly into your CI/CD pipeline—making continuous quality not just possible, but painless.

By embracing QC, you’re not just squashing bugs.

Conclusion

So, what is quality control in software development? It’s your best defense against chaos. It’s how you ensure your product doesn’t just work—it works well, consistently, and safely.

By embracing QC, you’re not just squashing bugs. You’re building trust, protecting your brand, and creating software your users can count on.

Ready to take your QC game up a notch? Explore Tricentis end-to-end testing solutions—and keep quality in control from day one.

This post was written by Juan Reyes. As an entrepreneur, skilled engineer, and mental health champion, Juan pursues sustainable self-growth, embodying leadership, wit, and passion. With over 15 years of experience in the tech industry, Juan has had the opportunity to work with some of the most prominent players in mobile development, web development, and e-commerce in Japan and the US.