A Complete Guide to Software Testing Life Cycle

In simple language, the software testing life cycle or STLC is the sequence of activities performed during the software testing process. Among the common misconceptions, software testing is not a one-time activity but a series of activities performed across the entire software development life cycle (SDLC). This is especially true in the age of Agile projects.

Each of the activities in STLC aims to verify and validate the quality of the final product. STLC also promotes the concept of continuous testing, as software products keep transitioning through multiple changes across the entire SDLC.

How is STLC more effective than traditional methods of software testing? Traditionally, QA or software testing is performed after the product development phase and before releasing the product to the market. This is no longer feasible as customers expect the release of high-quality applications in shorter time frames.

To that end, using a series of testing activities, the STLC produces relevant results early in the development phase. As a result, development teams find themselves equipped to resolve software bugs on time, driving both customer satisfaction and higher revenues.

How does STLC differ from SDLC? Let’s discuss that next.