Jenkins is a widely-used open-source tool designed to support Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD). It helps in automating parts of the software delivery process, allowing for frequent integration and ensuring rapid and reliable software releases. Jenkins provides a vast plugin ecosystem and integrates seamlessly with many tools in the software development lifecycle, enhancing its capabilities.

While traditional scripted testing is characterized by predefined test cases and steps which are created before test execution, exploratory testing is distinguished by the design and execution of tests in real-time. Testers engage in Exploratory Testing by actively navigating the application and designing tests on the fly based on their observations and insights.

The Page Object Model (POM) is a design pattern that promotes code reusability in automation scripts. In POM, web pages or segments of them are represented as objects within test scripts. When choosing an automation tool, the tool's ability to easily implement POM and reuse code can significantly streamline test development and maintenance.

Unit Testing is the process of verifying individual units or components of a software. Since a sorting algorithm is a singular function or component, unit tests are essential to ensure that it works correctly in isolation. This ensures that the algorithm correctly sorts data under various scenarios before it's integrated with other components.

A/B Testing allows companies to compare two versions of an application (or specific features) to determine which one is more effective in engaging users. By using this method, the company can test new designs or elements to see if they address user feedback about the application being dull or non-engaging.

Integration testing focuses on combining units or components of a software and testing them as a group. It's about validating the interactions between different modules or services in a specified flow to ensure they work together as intended in the system's broader environment. Unit testing, on the other hand, checks individual components, while system testing validates the entire application.

The primary goal of test planning in the software testing lifecycle is to set the direction and scope for the testing activities. It helps in defining objectives, strategies, and the effort required to validate that the software meets its requirements and is free from critical issues.

Tool Assessment is the process wherein different test automation tools are critically evaluated and compared based on criteria like functionality, ease of use, and cost, among others. The aim is to choose the tool that aligns best with the project requirements, ensuring efficient and effective automation.

Passive Testing is a form of security testing where the tester observes the system but does not interact directly with it. Unlike penetration testing, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities, passive testing focuses on identifying potential vulnerabilities without attempting to exploit them.

Beta testing involves releasing the software product to a limited number of end-users for evaluation. This allows the development team to get real-world feedback from users and identify potential defects or areas of improvement before a public release.