The Ultimate Guide to Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)
Tags: softwaretesting, stlc, softwaretestinglifecycle
Published: 2021-10-28 12:13:45

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title: The Ultimate Guide to Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)
published: true
description: 
tags: softwaretesting, stlc, softwaretestinglifecycle
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There is always a lot of talk about the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) in the IT industry. The reason behind that is it provides you with the roadmap through which you can develop world-class software. However, the focus only remains on the development phase.

People never talk about the integral role testing plays in enhancing the quality of your software or product. Testing is as or more important than the development phase. If it’s not given its due importance, you will end up compromising the quality of your software or the product.

While Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) helps you develop software according to the requirements, Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) validates them. This blog will discuss STLC, its need, and the major phases of STLC are. So, let’s start the show.!

## What is Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

The [Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)](https://dev.to/rashmiranasinghe/basics-of-software-testing-life-cycle-1c7n) is a sequence of tasks designed to perform specific actions during the testing phase. It ensures that you meet the software quality guidelines as desired. Verification and Validation are two of the most important aspects of any STLC.

Now, you must have a basic understanding of STLC and its role in software development. However, what needs to be understood is the sequence of tasks and what role each one plays in the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC). So, let’s analyze that in our upcoming section.

## Different Phases of Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

#### 1. Requirements Gathering
[Requirements Gathering](https://dev.to/maikomiyazaki/first-meeting-with-a-client-knowing-requirement-gathering-techniques-makes-a-difference-1p6b) is one of the most critical phases of STLC as it gives you the chance to fix all your errors free of cost. During this phase, you can identify whether there’s a need for automation testing or manual testing is good enough for your project. You can also make labor cost calculations based on the data gathered during this phase. Furthermore, this is the phase where you decide the Entry and Exit criteria for the software development project.

#### 2. Test Planning
Once you gather all the requirements, the next step is to [create a test plan](https://dev.to/promode/test-plan-is-it-mandatory-to-create-test-plan-b98) involving all the testing phases, timing, participants, and responsibilities.

With the help of this data, you would know three things:
- The role of each participant in the testing
- The tools required for testing
- The necessary test environment

Planning well is half the battle won, and so, you must plan your testing phase with clarity and precision.

#### 3. Test Case Development
After creating a detailed test plan, the next thing you need to do is focus on creating test cases. Whether through a manual testing approach or by using [test automation tools](https://dev.to/katalon/best-automation-testing-tools-for-2020-top-10-reviews-4p94) available in the market, generate test cases for all critical functionalities of your software or product. Moreover, you should remember to separate the test cases for manual testing and automation testing.

#### 4. Test Environment Setup
Based on the Test Plan made in the second phase, you should set up a [test environment](https://dev.to/kapil_aggarwal1/test-environments-what-why-e2a). The configuration involves setting up operating systems, virtual machines, testing tools such as Selenium, Katalon Studio, and database deployment. You can also take the assistance of a DevOps expert in this phase if required, as it could impact the continuous delivery mechanism.

#### 5. Test Execution
Successful execution of test cases depends on (i) test documentation and (ii) test environment. All the test cases get recorded in a Test Management System. Here, the Negative records are the errors or bugs in your software, and the testing team passes them onto the development team. The development team works on them and again sends them back for re-testing.

#### 6. Test Cycle Enclosure 
Test Cycle Enclosure is the last phase of STLC, where you generate test reports for the clients. It comprises time spent executing test cases, a ratio of positive and negative test cases, and the total number of errors found in the project. Here, the testing department sums up its works and analyzes the reports in detail to estimate the quality of the software or the product. Again, communication is the key during this phase as it could also uncover [software testing costs](https://www.simform.com/blog/software-testing-cost/).

### Summing Up Things

Software testing is not as easy as it sounds. It’s only a single task through which you can verify and validate the software. You should adequately execute a sequence of functions to achieve thoroughness and accuracy in the testing process. Here, we have provided you with an ultimate guide on Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) and its various phases, which would prove helpful for you.