How is the STLC different from the SDLC?

STLC is a focused subset of the broader Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), focusing solely on
testing. While SDLC encompasses requirements gathering, design, development, testing,
deployment, and maintenance, STLC addresses only the validation phases—including planning,
execution, and closure.

From my viewpoint, implementing STLC within a V-Model SDLC allows mirrored activities—e.g.,
requirement analysis in STLC aligns with requirement design, and test planning maps to system
design. This traceability drastically reduces gaps: in one V-Model project, aligning STLC and SDLC
phases improved defect capture by 25% and cut testing rework by 15%.

Embedding STLC into each SDLC stage strengthens QA influence, ensures early testability
considerations, and avoids “golden path” biases. It fosters a discipline where every development
deliverable is matched with a testing counterpart.

What are the 6 Phases of STLC?

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a structured sequence of phases ensuring comprehensive
software validation. It aligns with the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) to guarantee quality.
The six sequential phases are:

1. Requirement Analysis: The QA team analyzes testable requirements.

2. Test Planning: Defining the strategy, objectives, and test deliverables.

3. Test Case Development: Creating detailed test cases and scripts.

4. Test Environment Setup: Configuring hardware/software for test execution.

 5. Test Execution: Running tests, logging results, and reporting defects.

6. Test Cycle Closure: Conducting a retrospective and finalizing reports.

Each of these stages has a definite Entry and Exit criteria, Activities & Deliverables associated with it.

Phase 1) Requirement Analysis

What is Requirement Analysis in STLC?

Requirement Analysis is the first and most critical phase of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC).
Also known as Requirement Phase Testing, it forms the foundation where test teams study
requirements from a testing perspective to identify testable components. During this critical phase,
QA teams interact with stakeholders, including business analysts, product managers, and developers,
to understand both functional and non-functional requirements comprehensively.

Key activities include:

 Identifying test conditions and priorities.

 Preparing a Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM) for coverage mapping.

 Documenting environmental and security needs.

Deliverables: RTM and feasibility reports.

This phase ensures that testing efforts are aligned with business goals, preventing scope creep and
rework later.

Phase 2) Test Planning

How Does Test Planning Drive STLC Success?

In this phase, the Senior QA Manager develops a comprehensive test plan that defines scope,
objectives, budget, and timelines. Decisions on tools (e.g., Selenium, JUnit, TestNG) and frameworks
are finalized, ensuring compatibility with project requirements. This phase determines testing scope,
methodology, and timeline, and establishes the testing framework that guides subsequent phases.

Key activities include:

 Drafting the test strategy document.

 Resource and role allocation.

 Selecting automation/manual approaches.

 Estimating efforts and scheduling milestones.

Deliverables: Approved Test Plan and effort estimation report.

This phase acts as the blueprint of the testing lifecycle, ensuring risks, dependencies, and
contingencies are addressed before execution begins.

Phase 3) Test Case Development

Why is Test Case Development Critical for Quality Assurance?

The Test Case Development phase lets you transform test planning into executable actions through
systematic creation, verification, and refinement of test cases and automation scripts. It translates
requirements into detailed test cases and automation scripts. Each case specifies input, expected
output, and pre-/post-conditions. A strong test suite ensures coverage and minimizes missed defects
—critical since the majority of software failures are due to inadequate testing. With this phase, This
phase bridges strategic planning with practical implementation, ensuring comprehensive test
coverage.

Key activities include:

 Designing and reviewing test cases.

 Creating test data aligned with business scenarios.

 Automating repetitive test flows where feasible.

Deliverables: Baseline test cases/scripts and test datasets.

Peer reviews and version control safeguard accuracy and reduce redundancy. By the end of this
phase, the QA team is equipped with a validated, reusable repository of test artifacts, ensuring
structured and efficient execution.

Phase 4) Test Environment Setup

How to Establish an Effective Test Environment Setup?

Test Environment Setup defines the software and hardware conditions under which testing occurs,
running parallel to test case development for optimal efficiency. This phase involves preparing the
deployment infrastructure where testing will occur. It’s a technical task often handled by DevOps or
system administrators, guided by the QA team’s requirements.

For your reference, I am enlisting the steps for Test Environment Setup:

 Step 1) Identify required hardware, software, and network configurations.

 Step 2) Install operating systems, databases, and application servers.

 Step 3) Configure test data and connectivity.

 Step 4) Conduct smoke tests to verify environment readiness.

Deliverables: Environment setup checklist, smoke test results, and a fully validated test environment.

Phase 5) Test Execution

What Makes Test Execution Phase Successful?

During Test Execution phase, testers execute the developed test cases against the built application in
the prepared environment to identify defects. Execution involves manual runs, automation scripts,
and regression testing. Each test result is logged (Pass/Fail), and any discrepancies are reported as
detailed bugs, including evidence like logs and screenshots. If a test fails, the bug is logged, assigned
to a developer, and retested after a fix.

Test execution often occurs in multiple cycles:

1. Sanity
 2. Regression

3. Re-testing

This is done to ensure new code changes don’t break existing functionality. Metrics like pass
percentage and defect density are tracked.

Key activities include:

 Executing planned tests.

 Logging defects with severity and priority tags.

 Retesting fixes and performing regression checks.

Deliverables: Updated RTM with execution status, test result logs, and defect reports.

This phase validates whether the software meets its functional and business requirements.

Phase 6) Test Cycle Closure

How Does Test Cycle Closure Optimize Future Testing?

Test Cycle Closure finalizes testing activities through comprehensive evaluation, reporting, and
knowledge capture. It ensures that testing objectives are met and results are formally documented.
This phase transforms testing experiences into actionable insights for continuous process
improvement and future project success. Lessons learned here significantly improve future test
cycles.

Key activities include:

 Preparing test summary and closure reports.

 Conducting retrospectives to identify bottlenecks.

 Capturing metrics such as defect density, severity index, and execution trends.

Deliverables: Test closure report and metrics dashboards.

This phase provides stakeholders with quantitative insights on software quality, ensuring
transparency and accountability.

What is Entry and Exit Criteria in STLC?

Entry and Exit Criteria are essential checklists that bring discipline to each STLC phase. They act as
“Quality Gates”, preventing a phase from starting without the necessary inputs or concluding without
verified outputs. They ensure readiness before progression and completion standards before moving
forward within the STLC phases.

 Entry Criteria (What is needed to begin) are prerequisite conditions that must be satisfied
before entering each STLC phase. For example, to begin Test Case Development, testers must
have a finalized requirements document, a clear understanding of workflows, and a
completed Test Plan. This avoids premature work and rework.

 Exit Criteria (What must be delivered to end) define what must be accomplished before
closing a phase and handing off to the next. In Test Case Development, for instance, all test
cases must be written and reviewed, test data prepared, and automation scripts (if
applicable) ready. These ensure completeness and transition readiness. This disciplined
hand-off reduces defects by up to 30% through preventing overlooked deliverables (based on
industry average QA cycle studies). Example: You would only wrap the phase when test
cases, data, and automation artifacts are all approved.