An Introduction to Software Testing Life Cycle STLC: Definition and Phases

An Introduction to Software Testing Life Cycle STLC: Definition and Phases
2022-05-31

This phase evaluates the strategy of development, testing procedure, possible defects in order to use these practices in the future if there is a software with the same specification. Implementing test automation and maximizing test coverage can speed up and improve a software testing process. If you want to run the testing effectively, you can use a software testing tool like MuukTest, a codeless test automation platform with 20x faster testing. In this phase, the team prepares a plan of all the phases of testing, timing, participants, and roles. Moreover, the resources, test environment, test limitations, and testing schedule are also determined at this stage. The goal of “Release, End Game” is to deploy your system successfully into production.


what is test cycle

The standard also includes an A-type 13-mode cycle, which is not listed in the table (ISO standards can be ordered through the ISO web site). The ISO 8178 includes a collection of steady-state engine dynamometer test cycles (designated as type C1, C2, D1, etc.) designed for different classes of engines and equipment. Each of these cycles represents a sequence of several steady-state modes with different weighting factors. It is important to note that test execution is an iterative process and may need to be repeated multiple times until all identified defects are fixed and the software is deemed fit for release. Parallel testing is an automated test process that allows developers and testers to run multiple tests against various real device variations and browser configurations at the same time.

Types of Functional

But sometimes there are situations when variations in  STLC are unavoidable. At this STLC phase, operating systems and virtual machines are configured, testing tools like Selenium, Katalon Studio, and the project’s test environment and databases are deployed. They also develop the test scripts and automate the testing process wherever possible to increase efficiency and reduce manual effort. For example, they use Selenium to create automated scripts for regression testing, and to test the functionality and compatibility of the platform with different web browsers and operating systems.

For example, they set a goal of achieving a 95% pass rate for functional testing, a 80% satisfaction rate for usability testing, and a 3-second load time for each page. Back to our example, this is when the testing team reviews the requirements and defines the testing objectives, strategies, and criteria. They decide to focus on functional, usability, and performance testing, and to use both manual and automated testing approaches.

MuukTest’s AI-Powered Test Automation Platform makes it effortless for growing engineering teams to ensure software quality at the speed of Agile and DevOps. By bringing our QA platform and experts together—we make QA testing quick, continuous and hassle-free for our customers. Software test automation tools can help speed up the whole process by helping you run smooth test cycles and producing instant reports.

The testing team from the example executes the test cases according to the testing plan and the testing schedule. Let’s say they conduct functional testing first, then usability testing, and finally performance testing. They analyze the test results, identify defects https://www.globalcloudteam.com/ and issues, and report them to the development team for resolution. Test development implies using manual and automated testing to achieve full coverage of the software’s functionality and features, with the process being based on the requirements set up beforehand.

ISO 8178

In Investigative testing, tester determines the potential problems in the form of defect stories. Investigative testing deals with common issues like integration testing, load/stress testing, and security testing. Test Environment Setup decides the software and hardware conditions under which a work product is tested. It is one of the critical aspects of the testing process and can be done in parallel with the Test Case Development Phase.

definition of test cycle

Ideally, it should include the duration of testing, total errors found and fixed, and the percentage of errors to positive test results. We know that glitchy or lagging software has the power to upset customers like nothing else. Therefore, organizations started to include testing in their SDLCs, and it soon became an essential part of every enterprise. However, as digital products saw advances and more complexity, with new releases of software and apps every so often, the tests evolved as well. The overall goal is client satisfaction and achieving the highest possible score at the Verification and Validation stages. In simple terms, the SDLC is a cycle where actions at each stage are reflected in subsequent stages.

What is STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)

This quadrant concentrates on the non-functional requirements such as performance, security, stability, etc. With the help of this quadrant, the application is made to deliver the non-functional qualities and expected value. The agile testing quadrants separate the whole process in four Quadrants and help to understand how agile testing is performed. The goal of test closure is to ensure that the software is ready for release and that the testing process has been conducted in an organized and efficient manner.

  • Initially, the Test data is identified then created and reviewed and then reworked based on the preconditions.
  • The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a systematic approach to testing a software application to ensure that it meets the requirements and is free of defects.
  • In this phase, tester analyses requirement document of SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) to examine requirements stated by the client.
  • Test case Execution takes place after the successful completion of test planning.
  • There should be no flaws, mistakes, or bugs, and all high intensity and high priority mistakes have been corrected.

It consists of a series of activities carried out methodologically to help certify your software product. Test automation is the best way to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and coverage of your software testing. An automated testing tool can run pre-recorded and predefined actions, compare the results to expected behaviour, and report the result of these manual tests to a test engineer. Once automated tests are created, they can be readily repeated and extended to accomplish tasks that manual testing cannot. As a result, automated software testing has emerged as a critical component of successful development projects.

Test cycles allow you to track and compare estimated progress against the actual results in real time, during test execution. Now imagine that an edtech startup company is developing an online learning platform for K-12 students to be launched in six months. The platform will include various types of educational content, such as videos, quizzes, and interactive exercises, and will be accessible on desktop and mobile devices. For more advice on how to increase agile velocity and productivity with quality intelligence, learn more about Quality Intelligence. The final stage of STLC is test closure, which is the generation of testing reports.

definition of test cycle

This phase may include a variety of testing tools, including TestComplete, Selenium, Appium, or Katalon Studio. Once environments are deployed, smoke tests are performed to ensure that environments are working as expected with all intended functionality. The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a systematic approach to testing a software application to ensure that it meets the requirements and is free of defects. It is a process that follows a series of steps or phases, and each phase has specific objectives and deliverables. The STLC is used to ensure that the software is of high quality, reliable, and meets the needs of the end-users.

definition of test cycle

Test cases also require updates over time to validate functionality, which occurs at this stage. The test cases should be reliable (repeatable), so developers can rerun the tests when they upgrade the product. Once the test cases are designed, a test team goes over them and organizes them into test suites. Keep reading for an in-depth analysis of these test phases and their role in software testing.

definition of test cycle

Contrary to popular belief, software testing is not just a separate activity. It consists of a series of methodological activities to help certify your software product. But in practice testing is not always performed according to the test plan.

This is also when the team identifies the need for test automation and makes economic calculations. This phase aims to complete the RTM document, the automation feasibility report, and a list of questions for the stakeholders (if applicable) to obtain more specific requirements. STLC starts right after the requirements of the software products are shared. The traditional Quality Assurance (QA) testing happened right before the product release to ensure the product didn’t contain any defects that would impact its functionality.