Software Development Lifecycle
The Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is the structured process used to plan, develop, test, deploy, and maintain software systems.
“The activities performed at each stage in software development, and how they relate to one another logically and chronologically.”
(Definition reproduced from the ISTQB Glossary. Copyright belongs to ISTQB.)
View the complete ISTQB GlossaryWhat is Software Development Lifecycle?
The SDLC provides a framework for organizing software development activities from initial requirements through retirement of the system.
Lifecycle phases: Includes planning, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Process guidance: Helps teams deliver software consistently.
Model flexibility: Can follow Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid approaches.
Real World Example
A mobile banking app lets customers freeze, unfreeze, replace, and cancel debit cards from the app.
The same button can be valid in one card status and invalid in another. Software development lifecycle matters because the defect risk sits in movement between statuses, not just on individual screens.
The tester follows each allowed and blocked transition, such as frozen to active or cancelled to reissued, and checks that the app prevents impossible card states.
Understanding Software development lifecycle helps the team protect customers from cards being left active, unusable, or shown with the wrong status after an action.
Practice Questions
Question 1
Which statement BEST describes Software development lifecycle in the context of ISTQB terminology?
Question 2
A tester needs to explain Software development lifecycle to a non‑technical stakeholder. Which approach is MOST appropriate?
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