Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
System reliability refers to the ability of a computer system or software application to consistently perform its intended functions without failure or errors, even under challenging conditions or heavy usage.
Related terms
Fault Tolerance: Fault tolerance is the capability of a system to continue functioning properly even if some of its components fail, ensuring uninterrupted operation.
Error Handling: Error handling involves implementing mechanisms in programming code to detect, prevent, and recover from various types of errors that may occur during program execution.
Redundancy: Redundancy is the practice of incorporating duplicate components or backup systems into a computer system to provide additional reliability and fault tolerance.