The software development lifecycle (SDLC) is a widely accepted methodology for developing software from beginning to end. The exact steps vary across teams, but they always encompass the following phases: requirements, planning, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and post-deployment. In the first three steps, developers analyze the requirements for the software program, plan how to build a product to meet those requirements, and design the architecture for the code. Once these steps are complete, the implementation step covers writing the actual code. The testing step often begins during implementation, allowing developers to identify and fix issues as they work. Once all the code has been written and tested, the software is released as a completed program in the deployment step. This is followed by some form of post-deployment activities, such as ongoing evaluation and maintenance, to ensure it continues working properly and address any bugs.