Spiral model of software development is also known as _____.

A meta-model in software-engineering process theory is a higher-level framework that is not tied to one fixed sequence of activities — instead, it can select from or embed other specific process models (waterfall-style stages, prototyping, incremental delivery) as needed, driven by risk. It is, in effect, a 'model of models'.

Barry Boehm's Spiral Model divides development into repeating loops, each covering four activities — Planning, Risk Analysis, Engineering, and Evaluation. Because each loop can adopt whichever combination of waterfall, prototyping, or incremental technique best fits the risk profile at that stage, rather than mandating one fixed methodology, the Spiral Model itself is classified as a meta-model.

Checking against the other labels offered confirms this:

• "Successive model" says nothing about looping back on risk; it is not a recognized synonym in standard SDLC literature.

• "Prototype model" names one specific technique the Spiral Model may embed inside a loop, not the umbrella classification for the whole approach.

• "Risk model" reflects only the Risk-Analysis activity within a single loop; the standard designation for the overall, methodology-agnostic framework is the meta-model.