Q. What is ripple effect? How does it affect the stability of a program?

Ans. The ripple effect is a term used to explain a situation where like the ever expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it an effect from an initial state can be followed outwards incrementally. Instances are able to be found in economics where an individual's reduction in spending reduces the incomes of others and their ability to spend. In sociology it is able to be observed how social interactions can affect situations not directly related to the initial interaction and in charitable activities where information can be disseminated and passed from community to community to broaden its impact.

In software, the effect of a modification mayn't be local to the modification but may as well affect other portions of the program. There is a undulate effect from the location of the modification to the other parts of the programs that are affected by the modification. One characteristic of the ripple effect concerns the performance of the program. The most important attribute affecting the ripple effect as a consequence of a program modification is the stability of the program. Program stability is described as the resistance to the amplification of changes in the program.