Safety-Critical Software
Definition: A subset of mission-critical software where failure could lead to catastrophic outcomes, such as loss of life, environmental damage, or severe injury. Examples include aviation and nuclear power plant software.
Analogy: The software that controls a car’s braking system is safety-critical; a malfunction could be deadly.
Why It Matters: The extreme importance of safety-critical software necessitates rigorous development standards and highly reliable programming languages.