The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

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The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) has evolved from a reactive, end-of-development process to a proactive, integrated practice that emphasizes continuous quality assurance.

The modern STLC adapts to Agile, DevOps, and AI-driven practices, delivering software that meets user expectations and performs reliably in complex, fast-paced environments.

• Requirement Analysis
• Test Planning
• Test Case Development
• Test Environment Setup
• Test Execution
• Test Closure

It starts from analyzing requirements and continues until the product is released and tested thoroughly.

STLC Phases

Requirement Analysis

QA team reviews business & functional requirements.
Identify testable features and what kind of testing is needed (e.g., functional, UI, performance).
Questions/clarifications are raised to stakeholders.

Outcome: Clear understanding of scope and testability.

Test Planning

Define test strategy.
Estimate effort, budget, and resource needs.
Identify tools (e.g., automation frameworks).
Define roles and timelines.

Outcome: A test plan document with timelines, scope, and resources.

Test Case Development

Create detailed test cases and test scripts.
Define expected results.
Review and finalize test data.

Outcome: A library of test cases ready to execute.

Test Environment Setup

Set up hardware, software, test data, and environments (dev/stage).
Install tools like Selenium, Appium, or Postman.
Confirm integration with CI/CD pipelines if needed.

Outcome: A ready-to-go test environment.

Test Execution

Execute manual or automated test cases.
Log results (pass/fail).
Report bugs and defects to the dev team.

Outcome: Bug reports, test logs, and metrics.

Test Cycle Closure

Evaluate test coverage, defect trends, and overall quality.
Document lessons learned.
Archive testware for future cycles.

Outcome: A test summary report and continuous improvement notes.