.NET Architecture & System Design Interview Question #5

What are quality attributes in system architecture?

Architecture Fundamentals, Scalability, Availability & Performance Junior Beginner

Quick Interview Answer

Quality attributes are measurable or observable characteristics that describe how well a system operates. Common examples include performance, scalability, availability, reliability, security, maintainability, testability, and usability.

Detailed Explanation

Quality attributes are measurable or observable characteristics that describe how well a system operates. Common examples include performance, scalability, availability, reliability, security, maintainability, testability, and usability.

Architectural decisions usually involve trade-offs among these attributes. For example, adding distributed components may improve independent scalability but increase operational complexity and failure modes.

Code Example

Quality attributes:
Performance
Scalability
Availability
Reliability
Security
Maintainability
Testability
Observability