What characteristic distinguishes dynamic testing from other testing methodologies?

Dynamic testing is characterized by the execution of the system being tested. This approach allows stakeholders to observe the actual behavior of the software during runtime, which is crucial for identifying issues that may not be evident through static analysis alone. By running the application, dynamic testing assesses the system's functionality, performance, security, and other dynamic aspects as it interacts with various inputs and operates in real-time scenarios. This methodology is particularly useful for uncovering problems related to system interactions, and resource utilization, and for confirming that the software behaves as expected under different conditions.

The focus on executing the system instead of merely analyzing its code or structure makes dynamic testing an effective method for validating complex behaviors that require a live environment to fully assess. This characteristic highlights the difference between dynamic testing and other testing methodologies that may center around theoretical analysis or non-interactive evaluations of the system's components without running the code itself.