What term describes a technology's ability to fulfill its intended purpose efficiently?

The term that describes a technology's ability to fulfill its intended purpose efficiently is performance. Performance encompasses various metrics, such as speed, responsiveness, and resource usage, which collectively determine how effectively a system operates under specific conditions. When evaluating performance, you consider how well the technology executes tasks, handles load, and responds to user activities, which is crucial for maintaining productivity and user satisfaction.

While the other terms may relate to certain aspects of a technology's operation, they do not specifically denote efficiency in achieving its intended purpose. Recoverability refers to how well a system can restore data and functionality after a failure. Scalability is about a system's ability to handle an increasing load or expand in capacity, which is important but not directly tied to the efficiency of fulfilling current tasks. Usability focuses on how user-friendly and accessible the technology is for end-users. In contrast, performance directly measures the efficiency and effectiveness of the technology in executing its designated functions.