Software Testing Life Cycle | M-Square Technology

A Complete Guide To Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

What is the Software Testing Life Cycle?

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.

The main goal of the STLC is to identify and document any defects or issues in the software application as early as possible in the development process. This allows for issues to be addressed and resolved before the software is released to the public.

The stages of the STLC include Test Planning, Test Analysis, Test Design, Test Environment Setup, Test Execution, Test Closure, and Defect Retesting. Each of these stages includes specific activities and deliverables that help to ensure that the software is thoroughly tested and meets the requirements of the end users.

Overall, the STLC is an important process that helps to ensure the quality of software applications and provides a systematic approach to testing. It allows organizations to release high-quality software that meets the needs of their customers, ultimately leading to customer satisfaction and business success.

Characteristics of the Software Testing Life Cycle

STLC is a fundamental part of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) but STLC consists of only the testing phases.
STLC starts as soon as requirements are defined or software requirement document is shared by stakeholders.
STLC yields a step-by-step process to ensure quality software.
Define goals and expectations clearly for each project aspect.
The tester can analyze and establish the scope of testing and write effective test cases while the software or product is still in the early stages of the STLC. It aids in the reduction of Test Cycle time and the provision of higher product quality.
Ensure that the features are tested and passed before adding the additional features.

Phases of the Software Testing Life Cycle

1. Requirement Analysis: Requirement Analysis is the first step of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC). In this phase quality assurance team understands the requirements like what is to be tested. If anything is missing or not understandable then the quality assurance team meets with the stakeholders to better understand the detailed knowledge of requirements.
The activities that take place during the Requirement Analysis stage include:

Reviewing the software requirements document (SRD) and other related documents
Interviewing stakeholders to gather additional information
Identifying any ambiguities or inconsistencies in the requirements
Identifying any missing or incomplete requirements
Identifying any potential risks or issues that may impact the testing process
Creating a requirement traceability matrix (RTM) to map requirements to test cases

At the end of this stage, the testing team should have a clear understanding of the software requirements and should have identified any potential issues that may impact the testing process. This will help to ensure that the testing process is focused on the most important areas of the software and that the testing team is able to deliver high-quality results.

2. Test Planning: Test Planning is the most efficient phase of the software testing life cycle where all testing plans are defined. In this phase manager of the testing team calculates the estimated effort and cost for the testing work. This phase gets started once the requirement-gathering phase is completed.

The activities that take place during the Test Planning stage include:

Identifying the testing objectives and scope
Developing a test strategy: selecting the testing methods and techniques that will be used
Identifying the testing environment and resources needed
Identifying the test cases that will be executed and the test data that will be used
Estimating the time and cost required for testing
Identifying the test deliverables and milestones
Assigning roles and responsibilities to the testing team
Reviewing and approving the test plan

At the end of this stage, the testing team should have a detailed plan for the testing activities that will be performed, and a clear understanding of the testing objectives, scope, and deliverables. This will help to ensure that the testing process is well-organized and that the testing team is able to deliver high-quality results.

3. Test Case Development: The test case development phase gets started once the test planning phase is completed. In this phase testing team notes down the detailed test cases. The testing team also prepares the required test data for the testing. When the test cases are prepared then they are reviewed by the quality assurance team.

The activities that take place during the Test Case Development stage include:

Identifying the test cases that will be developed
Writing test cases that are clear, concise, and easy to understand
Creating test data and test scenarios that will be used in the test cases
Identifying the expected results for each test case
Reviewing and validating the test cases
Updating the requirement traceability matrix (RTM) to map requirements to test cases

At the end of this stage, the testing team should have a set of comprehensive and accurate test cases that provide adequate coverage of the software or application. This will help to ensure that the testing process is thorough and that any potential issues are identified and addressed before the software is released.

4. Test Environment Setup: Test environment setup is a vital part of the STLC. Basically, the test environment decides the conditions on which software is tested. This is independent activity and can be started along with test case development. In this process, the testing team is not involved. either the developer or the customer creates the testing environment.

5. Test Execution: After the test case development and test environment setup test execution phase gets started. In this phase testing team starts executing test cases based on prepared test cases in the earlier step.

The activities that take place during the test execution stage of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) include:

Test execution: The test cases and scripts created in the test design stage are run against the software application to identify any defects or issues.
Defect logging: Any defects or issues that are found during test execution are logged in a defect tracking system, along with details such as the severity, priority, and description of the issue.
Test data preparation: Test data is prepared and loaded into the system for test execution
Test environment setup: The necessary hardware, software, and network configurations are set up for test execution
Test execution: The test cases and scripts are run, and the results are collected and analyzed.
Test result analysis: The results of the test execution are analyzed to determine the software’s performance and identify any defects or issues.
Defect retesting: Any defects that are identified during test execution are retested to ensure that they have been fixed correctly.
Test Reporting: Test results are documented and reported to the relevant stakeholders.

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.

6. Test Closure: Test closure is the final stage of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) where all testing-related activities are completed and documented. The main objective of the test closure stage is to ensure that all testing-related activities have been completed and that the software is ready for release.

At the end of the test closure stage, the testing team should have a clear understanding of the software’s quality and reliability, and any defects or issues that were identified during testing should have been resolved. The test closure stage also includes documenting the testing process and any lessons learned so that they can be used to improve future testing processes

Test closure is the final stage of the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) where all testing-related activities are completed and documented. The main activities that take place during the test closure stage include:

Test summary report: A report is created that summarizes the overall testing process, including the number of test cases executed, the number of defects found, and the overall pass/fail rate.
Defect tracking: All defects that were identified during testing are tracked and managed until they are resolved.
Test environment clean-up: The test environment is cleaned up, and all test data and test artifacts are archived.
Test closure report: A report is created that documents all the testing-related activities that took place, including the testing objectives, scope, schedule, and resources used.
Knowledge transfer: Knowledge about the software and testing process is shared with the rest of the team and any stakeholders who may need to maintain or support the software in the future.
Feedback and improvements: Feedback from the testing process is collected and used to improve future testing processes

It is important to note that test closure is not just about documenting the testing process, but also about ensuring that all relevant information is shared and any lessons learned are captured for future reference. 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.

Methodologies of Software Testing Life Cycle

In software testing, there are various methodologies to carry out the software testing processes.

There are four types of methodologies:

Agile Model
Waterfall Model
V Model
Spiral Model

Agile Model

To overcome the challenges, longer iterations of testing and development are used in the agile paradigm throughout the software testing life cycle (STLC). It is currently the most popular model.

If you are still working on the Waterfall Methodology, it is high time to move to the Agile methodology. Here are some of the points you need to know while moving from Waterfall to Agile Testing.

Customers have the ability to make adjustments to the project to improve it and eliminate defects. In other words, any errors discovered during testing can be rectified or amended on the spot without interrupting the testing process.

Teams must now automate their test cycles due to the current trend in enterprises toward Agile development. This enables them to advertise new features more quickly and gain an advantage. There are 7 phases included in the agile methodology. They are:

Plan
Design
Develop
Test
Deploy
Review
Launch

It is essential to follow the phases one after the other. It’s also critical to remember that to ensure apps are prepared for the real world, they must be tested in real-world user conditions.

Advantages of the Agile model

The processes are divided into many individual models in the Agile model so that developers can work on them separately.
It presents a method for software testing and development that is iterative and incremental.
It gives the consumer an early peek at the project and allows them to make regular decisions and modifications.
When compared to the other models, the agile technique is considered an unstructured model.
Between testing sessions, problems, errors, and defects can be corrected.
It necessitates less planning, and the project, or the testing process, is completed in short iterations.

With plenty of advantages, it is suitable for organizations to stick to the Agile methodologies. We at M-Square supports this and can help you to embed the Agile Testing for your new/current projects.

Waterfall Model

One of the earliest methodology of Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) to be introduced was a Process Model called waterfall Model. It is quite basic and straightforward to use. It functions similarly to a downward-flowing waterfall. Each phase should be finished before the execution of the next phase in this model, ensuring that no phases overlap.

There are 5 phases in the waterfall model, which are completed one after the other. They are:

Requirement Analysis
System Design
Implementation
System Testing
System Deployment
System Maintenance

Before testing begins, all needs are determined in the first step, referred to as the Requirement Analysis phase. The developers build the project’s workflow in the next step, known as the System Design phase.

The intended work from the System Design phase is implemented in the Implementation phase. The testing step follows, with each module’s functionality being validated against the criteria.

The next phase is the Deployment phase, followed by the Maintenance phase, which is an ongoing process. During this phase, the developers address any issues arising from the software’s use over time. When a problem occurs, the developer patches it, and the software returns to testing. This process is repeated until all flaws have been resolved.

Advantages of the Waterfall Model

There is a review procedure and defined deliverables for each phase.
There is no overlapping between the phases because they are completed one at a time.
It works effectively for projects with well-defined requirements that do not change over the development process.

Disadvantages of the Waterfall Model

It does not demonstrate good results for lengthy projects.
It carries a great deal of danger and uncertainty.
It performs terribly for projects with a high or moderate likelihood of requirement modifications.
For complex, object-oriented tasks, it performs mediocrely.
The entire project may be abandoned if the scope is modified along the life cycle.
In the last stages of the life cycle, the functional software is produced.

V-Model

The Waterfall Model is an out-of-date model with numerous flaws and limitations. Later a new methodology of Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) was created to overcome those limits called the V-Model.

The Verification and Validation model is another name for the V-Model. It is seen as a development of the Waterfall model. The tasks in the V-Model are completed simultaneously. On the left-hand side, it depicts software development operations, while on the right-hand side, it depicts the testing phases in progress.

It means that each element of the software development cycle is inextricably linked to the phases of software testing. This model likewise follows the waterfall approach, as there are no stages that overlap, and the next phase begins once the previous phase has been completed.

The testing phase must be planned concurrently with the software development phase in this architecture. The Verification phase begins after the designing or planning phase, followed by the coding phase, and finally, the validation step.

This phase also includes module design, which ensures that all modules are compatible with one another. The coding step begins after the verification phase is completed.

The coding is carried out in accordance with the standards and rules. The Validation phase follows the coding phase. The software is tested, including unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing, to ensure that it meets the customer’s needs and expectations and that it is defect-free.

Advantages of the V-Model

It is simple to comprehend and operate. Its ease of use makes it much more manageable.
There is no overlapping of phases.
It’s ideal where the needs are clear, such as minor projects.
Each phase has its evaluation procedure and set of deliverables.

Disadvantages of the V-Model

Not recommended for complex, object-oriented programs.
Unsuitable for lengthy projects.
Not suitable for projects when there is a medium to high likelihood that a requirement may change during the project.

Spiral Model

The V-Model and the Waterfall Model are recommended only for smaller projects where the requirements are specified clearly. Spiral models are suitable for larger projects.

The Sequential Linear Development Model and the Iterative Development Process Model are combined in this paradigm. This means it’s similar to the Waterfall approach but focuses on risk assessment. In the Spiral mode, a particular activity is done in one iteration. This is why it is called Spiral.

The same procedure is followed for every spiral created to construct the whole software. There are four phases in the spiral model. They are:

Identifying Objectives
Risk Analysis
Develop and Test
Review and Evaluate

The sole variation between the phases of the Waterfall and Spiral model is the risk analysis.

Advantages of the Spiral model

Unlike the previous two models, it enables changes to be accommodated. However, the requirements should be expressed clearly and should not change throughout the process.
It enables users to test the system at an early stage.
Requirements are captured more precisely.
It provides for the division of the development process into smaller segments, allowing for the creation of the riskier parts early, resulting in better and more exact risk management.

Disadvantages of the Spiral model

The procedure is very intricate.
It is impossible to predict the project’s completion date in advance.
Low-risk initiatives shouldn’t employ it because it can be costly and unnecessary.
There is no end to the spiral iteration.
As a result of the several intermediary steps, excessive documentation is required.

Irrespective of what method you are using or planning to implement, M-Square Technologies has expertize to fit and work with all of them. We are not limited to any one methodology and we can also suggest you what suits best for your project/organization. You can opt for FREE CONSULTATION to understand in more depth.

Best Practices of Software Testing Life Cycle?

Below are some of the best practices that are followed in the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC).

When deciding on the scope of testing, consult with important business users.
User feedback is used to identify essential business processes.
As they consume most of the user’s time and resources, it ensures that the test strategy covers testing for those essential business operations.
Determine the most common faults or problems that negatively influence the user experience.
Testing is planned with a clean user experience for important processes.
Testing is planned to ensure that the product meets all user requirements.

Conclusion

Identifying faults in the last stage of an SDLC is no longer an effective approach. A company must also concentrate on a variety of other daily duties. Spending too much of your valuable time testing and correcting bugs can stifle productivity. After all, it will take longer to produce less output.

It’s critical to make efficient use of time and resources to make the testing process go more smoothly. Following a systematic STLC allows you to fix bugs quickly and improves your work’s quality.

Happy Testing!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is SDLC and STLC life cycle?

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a set of activities that take place throughout the software development process. The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a set of actions that take place throughout the software testing process.

What is entry and exit criteria?

The terms entry and exit criteria are commonly used in research and development but can be used in any sector. Benefits include ensuring that the process meets particular entry and exit criteria before moving on to the next level, including the last level before completion.

What are the phases of the testing life cycle?

There are six different phases in the software testing life cycle. They are:

Requirement Analysis.
Test Planning
Test Case Development
Test Environment Setup
Text Execution
Test Cycle Closure

What does sdlc stand for?

SDLC stands for Software Development Life Cycle. It is a structured process that guides the development of software from its inception to its deployment.

What is the sdlc process?

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a systematic approach used to develop software. It involves several stages, including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Each phase has specific activities and deliverables, ensuring a structured and efficient development process.

What is the design phase in the sdlc quizlet?

The design phase in the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) refers to the stage where the system’s architecture and specifications are planned and documented. It involves creating detailed technical designs and determining the best solution to meet the project’s requirements.

What is SDLC and its types?

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structured approach to developing software. It consists of various phases such as requirements gathering, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. SDLC types include Waterfall, Agile, and DevOps, each with its own unique characteristics and methodologies.

What is the difference between SDLC and STLC?

SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) refers to the process of developing software, encompassing planning, designing, coding, testing, and maintenance. STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle) is a subset of SDLC focused solely on testing activities such as test planning, test design, test execution, and defect tracking.

Why is SDLC important?

The SDLC, or Software Development Life Cycle, is crucial as it provides a structured approach to developing high-quality software. It ensures effective project management, thorough requirements gathering, proper testing, and timely delivery, leading to improved productivity, reduced costs, and customer satisfaction.

What is STLC in testing?

STLC, or Software Testing Life Cycle, is a series of testing activities conducted by a testing team to ensure software quality. It’s an integral part of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and encompasses diverse steps to verify and validate software for a successful release.

what is software testing life cycle?

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a structured process for testing software to ensure quality benchmarks are achieved. It encompasses sequential phases, ensuring systematic and comprehensive testing of the software product to identify and rectify defects before release.