What quality attribute would be favored using a rich search algorithm?

Question

I'm working on an architecture document based on quality attributes. I'm trying to explain our search algorithm based on tags, historics and some bi information as a way of favouring a quality attribute.

I read some material about this (Software Architecture in Practice, Third Edition) : usability is the closest I got (in the way of making it easy to search for something) but that is not quite right. I've read a list of quality attributes in Wikipedia: maybe correctness or relevance would apply? are those even formal quality attributes?

Answer 1

If you're looking for a formal attribute, you'd better stick to ISO/IEC 9126 or its successor ISO/IEC 25010.

Following are "functionality" attributes:

• "correctness" corresponds to "accuracy". This means that it produces the correct results and with sufficient degree of precision.
• "relevance" seams to match "suitability". This means that it provides the right functions for the user's task and objectives.

I understand you want to highlight how your algorithm is favoring/contributing to quality:

• not sure that "correctness" is a good match here, unless your algorithm has some feature that must be used to achieve correct results.
• "relevance" could be a good match as the algorithm will somehow make the searching more efficient, helping user to better achieve his/her goals.

"Usability" is a group of several attributes, that are about ease of use and attractivity. It's too general for a document about quality attributes. The following would be more precise, and seem also to suit your needs:

• "operablity" is about facilitating the user to control the software while meeting user's expectations (e.g. better, more targeted search results ? thus avoiding lots of browsing across correct but less relevant results)
• "attractiveness" is about the emotions of the user. For example, if this algorithm will make the user like your software more than comparable software using another search algorithm.