What does "utility" refer to?

The term "utility" refers to the state or quality of being useful, beneficial, or practical. It is primarily associated with the usefulness of something in terms of fulfilling a need or purpose. In various contexts, utility can describe how well a product, service, or idea serves the needs of a user or fits into a certain scenario.

In contrast, beauty is about aesthetics and visual appeal, sound quality relates to the audio performance or clarity of sound, and popularity speaks to how well-liked or famous something is among people. None of these options align with the core meaning of "utility," which is centered specifically on effectiveness and practicality. Therefore, usefulness accurately captures the essence of "utility."