What Is Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a series of activities that software testers follow to ensure that software is tested thoroughly and effectively. The STLC is a set of steps that begins with the analysis of the requirements and ends with the deployment of the software.

The typical phases of the STLC include:

  1. Requirement Analysis: In this phase, the testing team analyzes the requirements and creates a test plan that includes the scope of testing, test objectives, and test strategies.
  2. Test Planning: In this phase, the testing team develops a detailed test plan that outlines the testing strategy, test cases, and test data.
  3. Test Case Development: In this phase, the testing team develops test cases based on the test plan, including both positive and negative test cases.
  4. Test Environment Setup: In this phase, the testing team prepares the environment for testing by setting up hardware, software, and other testing tools.
  5. Test Execution: In this phase, the testing team executes the test cases and documents the results.
  6. Test Reporting: In this phase, the testing team generates reports that summarize the test results, including defects and recommendations for improvements.
  7. Defect Retesting: In this phase, the testing team retests the defects to ensure that they have been fixed.
  8. Test Closure: In this phase, the testing team evaluates the overall testing process and provides feedback for improvement in future projects.

The STLC is an important process for ensuring the quality of software, and it helps to identify defects early in the development cycle. By following a standardized process, software testers can ensure that all aspects of the software have been thoroughly tested and meet the requirements of the stakeholders.