Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) Phases


The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a term that refers to the process of testing software.

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a set of actions that are carried out during the testing process to guarantee that software quality objectives are satisfied. Both verification and validation are part of the STLC process. Software testing is not merely a single/isolated operation, contrary to the common notions. It comprises a set of operations that are carried out in a methodical manner to assist with the certification of your software product. Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is an acronym for Software Testing Life Cycle.

This guide will teach you how to −

  • Phases of the STLC

  • Analysis of Requirements

  • Test Preparation

  • Development of Test Cases

  • Setup of the Test Environment

  • Execution of the Test

  • Closure of the Test Cycle

  • Phases of the STLC, as well as Entry and Exit Criteria

Phases of the STLC

Every Software Testing Life Cycle Model (STLC Model) has the following six key phases −

  • Analysis of Requirements

  • Test Preparation

  • Creating test cases

  • Setup of the Test Environment

  • Execution of the Test

  • Closure of the Test Cycle

What are STLC's Entry and Exit Criteria?

  • Entry Criteria − The required things that must be done before testing can begin are listed in Entry Criteria.

  • Exit Criteria − The elements that must be done before testing may be finished are defined by exit criteria.

All phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle contain Entry and Exit Criteria (STLC)

In an ideal world, you would not go to the next step until the previous stage's departure conditions had been satisfied. However, this is not always achievable in practice. As a result, we'll concentrate on activities and deliverables for the various stages of the STLC life cycle in this lesson. Let's take a closer look at them.

Phases of Requirement Testing

Requirement Phase Testing, also known as Requirement Analysis, is a process in which a test team examines requirements from a testing standpoint to determine testable requirements, and the QA team may communicate with multiple stakeholders to gain a thorough understanding of the requirements. Functional or non-functional requirements are both possible. The testing project's automation viability is also determined at this point.

Requirement Phase Testing Activities

  • Determine the sorts of tests that will be done.

  • Collect information about testing priorities and emphasis.

  • Make a Matrix of Requirement Traceability (RTM).

  • Determine the details of the test environment in which the testing will take place.

  • Analyze the viability of automation (if required).

Requirement Phase Testing Deliverables

  • RTM

  • Report on the viability of automation (if applicable)

STLC Test Planning

In the STLC, Test Planning is the phase in which a Senior QA Manager defines the test plan approach, as well as the project's effort and cost estimations. Also determined are the resources, test environment, test constraints, and testing timetable. In the same step, the Test Plan is created and completed.

Planning Activities for Tests

  • Test plan/strategy document preparation for various types of testing

  • Choosing a test tool

  • Estimation of the test effort

  • Organizing resources and identifying roles and responsibilities

  • Requirement for education

Test Planning Deliverables

  • A document containing a test plan/strategy.

  • Document for estimating effort.

The phase of developing test cases

Following the completion of the test strategy, the Test Case Development Phase entails the design, verification, and revision of test cases and test scripts. The Test data is first selected, then prepared, examined, and modified in accordance with the preconditions. The QA team then begins the process of creating test cases for specific units.

Activities to Develop Test Cases

  • Create test cases and scripts for automation (if applicable)

  • Test cases and scripts are reviewed and baselined.

  • Make some test data (If Test Environment is available)

Test Case Development Deliverables

  • Scripts and test cases

  • Data from the tests

Setup of the Test Environment

The software and hardware circumstances under which a work product is evaluated are determined by the Test Environment Setup. It is an important part of the testing process and can be completed concurrently with the Test Case Development Phase. If the development team supplies the test environment, the test team may not be involved in this task. A readiness check (smoke testing) of the provided environment is needed of the test team.

Setup Activities for the Test Environment

  • Prepare a hardware and software need list for the Test Environment by understanding the required architecture, setting up the environment, and understanding the required architecture.

  • Set up the test data from the tests and the environment

  • Carry out a smoke test on the structure.

Test Environment Setup Deliverables

  • Test data is put up and the environment is ready.

  • Results of the Smoke Test.

The phase of Test Execution

The testers do the test execution phase, in which they test the software build using the test plans and test cases that have been generated. Test script execution, test script maintenance, and defect reporting are all part of the process. If bugs are found, they are reported to the development team for rectification, and retesting is done.

Execution Activities for Tests

  • Carry out the tests as planned.

  • Test results should be documented, and any failed instances should be logged as defects.

  • In RTM, map defects to test cases.

  • Retest the Fixes for Defects

  • Follow up on the issues until they're resolved.

Test Execution Deliverables

  • RTM has been completed and the execution status has been set.

  • Test cases have been updated with the findings.

  • Reports of flaws

Closure of the Test Cycle

The Test Cycle Closure phase encompasses numerous operations such as test completion reporting, the collecting of test completion matrices, and the analysis of test findings. Members of the testing team meet, discuss, and review testing artifacts in order to develop tactics that must be applied in the future, based on the current test cycle's lessons. The goal is to eliminate bottlenecks in the process for future test cycles.

Closure of the Test Cycle

  • Time, test coverage, cost, software, critical business objectives, and quality are all factors to consider when evaluating cycle completion requirements.

  • Prepare test metrics depending on the characteristics listed above.

  • Keep track of what you learned through the project.

  • Prepare a test conclusion report.

  • Reporting to the client on the quality of the work output in both qualitative and quantitative terms.

  • Analysis of test results to determine the defect distribution by kind and severity.

Closure of the Test Cycle Deliverables

  • Report on the completion of the test

  • Metrics for testing

STLC StageEntry CriteriaActivityExit CriteriaDeliverables
Analysis of Requirements
  • Requirements There is a document accessible (both functional and non functional)

  • Acceptance criteria have been established.

  • The architecture paper for the application is now accessible.

  • Analyze business functionality to learn about business modules and functions particular to each module.

  • All transactions in the modules must be identified.

  • Make a list of all the user profiles.

  • Gather requirements for user interface/authentication, as well as geographic distribution.

  • Determine the sorts of tests that will be done.

  • Collect information about testing priorities and emphasis.

  • Make a Matrix of Requirement Traceability (RTM).

  • Determine the details of the test environment in which the testing will take place.

  • Analyze the viability of automation (if required).

  • RTM has been signed off.

  • The customer has signed off on the test automation feasibility study.

  • RTM

  • Report on the viability of automation (if applicable)

Test Preparation
  • Documents Outlining Requirements

  • Requirement Matrix of traceability

  • The document outlining the viability of test automation.

  • Examine the many testing methods available.

  • Decide on the best course of action.

  • Test plan/strategy document preparation for various types of testing

  • Choosing a test tool

  • Estimation of test effort

  • Organizing resources and identifying roles and responsibilities

  • The test plan/strategy paper has been approved.

  • Signed off on the effort estimation paper.

  • A document containing a test plan/strategy.

  • Document for estimating effort.

Test Case Development
  • Documents Outlining Requirements

  • RTM and test strategy

  • Report on automation analysis

  • Test cases, test designs, and automation scripts should all be created (where applicable)

  • Test cases and scripts are reviewed and baselined.

  • Make some test data.

  • Test Cases/Scripts have been reviewed and signed.

  • Test data was reviewed and signed.

  • Scripts and test cases

  • Data from the tests

Setup of the Test Environment
  • Documents on system design and architecture are available.

  • A strategy for setting up the environment is offered.

  • Recognize the necessary architecture and environment setup.

  • Make a list of hardware and software requirements for development.

  • Complete the connection specifications.

  • Prepare a checklist for setting up the environment.

  • Set up the test data from the tests and the environment

  • Carry out a smoke test on the structure.

  • Accept or reject the build based on the results of the smoke test.

  • The environment is set up according to the plan and checklist.

  • The test data setup is finished.

  • The smoke test is successful.

  • Test data is put up and the environment is ready.

  • Results of the Smoke Test.

Execution of the Test
  • There is a baselined RTM, a test plan, and test cases/scripts provided.

  • The testing environment is now available.

  • The data for the test has been set up.

  • The report for the unit/integration test for the build to be tested is provided.

  • Carry out the tests as planned.

  • Test results should be documented, and any failed instances should be logged as defects.

  • If required, revise test designs and test cases.

  • In RTM, map defects to test cases.

  • Re-test the bug fixes

  • Application Regression Testing

  • Follow up on the issues until they're resolved.

  • All scheduled tests are carried out.

  • Defects are reported and monitored until they are resolved.

  • RTM has been completed and is in the process of being executed.

  • Test cases have been updated with the findings.

  • Reports of flaws

Closure of the Test Cycle
  • The testing is over.

  • The results of the tests are now accessible.

  • There are defect logs accessible.

  • Time, test coverage, cost, software quality, and critical business objectives are all factors to consider when evaluating cycle completion requirements.

  • Prepare test metrics depending on the characteristics listed above.

  • Keep track of what you learned through the project.

  • Prepare a test conclusion report.

  • Reporting to the client on the quality of the work output in both qualitative and quantitative terms.

  • Analysis of test results to determine the defect distribution by kind and severity

  • The customer has signed off on the test closure report.

  • Report on the completion of the test

  • Metrics for testing

Updated on: 02-Dec-2021

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