What is STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)? | STLC Process

What is STLC process?

STLC stands for Software Testing Life Cycle. It is a process used to plan, design, execute, and report software testing activities. Like the SDLC, it provides a framework for software testing, outlining the various steps involved in the testing process.

Different Stages in STLC:

The steps in the STLC process include:

Test Planning: This is the first step in the STLC process, where the test objectives, scope, schedule, and resources are defined. The test plan also includes identifying the test strategy, test environment, and test deliverables.

Test Analysis: This phase involves a detailed review of the requirements and understanding the functionality of the software. In this phase the test cases are designed as per the requirements and functionalities of the software.

Test Design: The test cases designed in the previous step are then converted into a detailed test plan. This includes creating test scenarios, test cases, test data, and test procedures.

Test Execution: In this Step, test cases are executed and the results are recorded. Any defects or issues encountered during testing are reported and tracked.

Test Completion: This phase is used to end the test activities. This includes documenting test results, analyzing test metrics and deliverables, and closing any open issues.

Test Reporting: This phase is used to report on test activities, including test results and any defects found. Test reports are used to communicate the status of tests to stakeholders such as project managers, developers, and customers.

Test Maintenance: This phase is used to maintain the test cases and test environment. This includes updating test cases and test data as software changes, and keeping the test environment up to date.

More about STLC:

• The STLC process is an iterative process that is repeated as needed throughout the software development life cycle. Each step of the STLC process is dependent on the previous step, and it is essential that each step be completed before moving on to the next.

• STLC is an important part of the software development process, as it ensures that the software being developed meets the requirements and is free from defects. The STLC process helps to identify and correct defects early in the development process, which can save time and money in the long run.

• The STLC process is typically performed by a dedicated testing team, but may also include developers and other stakeholders. The testing team is responsible for creating test cases, executing tests, and reporting on the results.

Advantages of the STLC Process:

• A Major Advantage of the STLC process is that it provides a structured approach to testing, which helps ensure that all required tests are performed.

• This may include functional testing, performance testing, security testing, and usability testing etc.

• Another advantage of the STLC process is that it provides a way to measure and track the progress of the testing effort. This can include metrics such as test coverage, defect density, and test execution time.

• These metrics can be used to identify areas of the software that need more testing or where defects are more likely to occur.

Conclusion:

The STLC process is also an important part of the software quality assurance process. It helps to ensure that the software meets the quality standards set by the organization and is fit for its intended purpose. This helps in identifying areas that need improvement and implementing corrective actions.

It is important to note that the STLC process is not a one-time event, it is an ongoing process that continues even after the software is deployed. This includes monitoring software in production, tracking defects and issues, and performing maintenance tests as needed.