Agile Software Development
Agile software development is an iterative approach that delivers software in small increments while encouraging collaboration, adaptability, and continuous feedback.
“A group of software development methodologies based on iterative incremental development, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Agile Software Development?
Agile software development divides work into short iterations that allow teams to deliver working software frequently, respond to changing requirements, and continuously improve.
Iterative delivery: Features are developed and released in small increments.
Customer feedback: Regular stakeholder involvement improves product quality and relevance.
Role of testing: Testing is performed continuously throughout development instead of at the end.
Real World Example
A regulated product team is preparing a release where Agile software development appears in reviews, test design conversations, or defect triage rather than as an isolated glossary word.
The risk is that the team treats Agile software development as interchangeable with nearby ISTQB terms. That makes test scope blurry and can lead to weak evidence for the release decision.
The tester anchors the discussion in the official definition, asks where the concept appears in the product, and designs examples that show the difference between Agile software development and similar ideas.
The page becomes useful in practice because Agile software development is connected to a specific testing decision, not memorized as a detached definition.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which of the following BEST describes agile software development?
Question 2
In agile software development, who is typically responsible for testing?
Test your knowledge with real ISTQB-style questions
You’ve learned Agile Software Development. Test your understanding with topic-specific questions in our Mock Exams.