Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) | Uses, Roles, & Phases (Latest)

Introduction

Like the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the Software testing Life cycle comprises various distinct phases such as requirement analysis, test planning, test case development, test environment setup, test execution, test cycle closure and many more.

In today’s developing world, Software testing is at the core of unusual digital experiences. In case you are not able to thoroughly validate your products before your clients use it, you risk estranging them.
Let us get you straight through that Software testing isn’t just a process to pursue before product delivery. Rather it is a multi-faceted, organization wide and ongoing effort to deliver the best product.
Just as SDLC, it is necessary for developing digital products and STLC is used for validating them efficiently for smooth delivery. Despite that, the process includes multiple members of organization at different levels to help businesses achieve their required quality goals in a specific manner.
So, now after getting a small intro about STLC, it's time to understand about What is software Testing life cycle? In brief!

What is Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is the testing procedure which is executed in an orderly and arranged way. In the STLC procedure, various exercises are done to improve the nature of the item. It is a sequence of some specific activities that are conducted during the testing process to ensure that the professional team meets the software quality goals.
The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) includes both verification and validation activities to help certify your software product.

What is the use of the STLC

Now you must have understood that the STLC is a set of measures and it includes various stages, like planning, control, implementation, standardization, and so on to fulfil your product requirements. All these things leads us to the fact that the Software Testing Life cycle is required not only to test the developed product quality but also for the following things that are mentioned here, such as: 

• Removing the shortcomings from your product during the earliest and most profitable stage of development for better results;
• Enhancing the quality and transparency of the development process;
• Increasing control over the product quality that are being developed at all stages of the SDLC;
• Determining the application of Agile, Scrum, SAFe, etc. for on-time product delivery;
• Help in delivering a quality product not only to the Client but also to its Users.

Moreover, the overall goal of STLC is client satisfaction and achieving the highest possible score at the Verification and Validation stages.

Here the picture depicts the role of the STLC in the SDLC with a double line graph: 

What is the role of STLC in SDLC?

As mentioned earlier, the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) and the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) are closely related to each other, but they simultaneously pursue different tasks of the same goal, such as: 

• Pen-down the needs in the desired form and developing the declared functionality
• Analyzing needs, assisting the client and the development team, and confirming the quality of the implemented functionality (as for the STLC).

Moreover, the overall goal of STLC is client satisfaction and achieving the highest possible score at the Verification and Validation stages.

Here the picture depicts the role of the STLC in the SDLC with a double line graph: 

In the above picture, the SDLC and the STLC lines move in parallel for most of the projects but start converging instantly during the software development phase with in-depth synchronization during the SDLC Test phase. This graph is pertinent to multiple types of projects such as software development and testing. The process remains the same for the implementation of a task within a project and reverse for a project with a huge number of iterations for both large as well as small business projects. But in this case, the lines will diverge and converge more instant!

Attributes of STLC:

• STLC is a basic piece of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) however STLC comprises just the testing stages. 
• STLC begins when prerequisites are characterized, or programming necessity reports are shared by partners. 
• STLC yields a bit by bit procedure to guarantee quality programming. 

In the basic periods of STLC, while the item thing or the application is being made, the testing bunch examines and describes the degree of testing, area and leave criteria and the trials. It helps with reducing the test procedure length and besides redesign the item quality. 

At the point when the advancement organize is done, the group is set up with experiments and starts the execution. This helps in finding bugs in the beginning time.

STLC Phases

STLC has the accompanying various stages however it isn't required to follow all stages. Stages are reliant on the idea of the product or the item, time and assets designated for the testing and the model of SDLC that will be followed.

Phase 1: Requirement Analysis

Requirement Analysis is the absolute first stage in Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) and it begins when the SRD/SRS is imparted to the testing group. 

Right now, the group experiences the Requirement archive with both Functional and non-functional subtleties so as to recognize the testable necessities. ‘Requirement analysis’ phase helps in deciding and preparing in case any mitigation strategy is required.

On the off chance that any contention, missing or not saw any prerequisite, at that point QA group catch up with the different partners like Business Analyst, System Architecture, Client, Technical Manager/Lead and so on to all the more likely comprehend the nitty-gritty information on necessity. 

From absolute initial step QA associated with the where STLC which assists with forestalling the bringing deserts into Software under test. The prerequisites can be either Functional or Non-Functional like Performance, Security testing. Likewise, prerequisite and Automation attainability of the venture should be possible right now (if applicable)

Phase 2: Test Planning

Test Planning is the most significant period of Software testing life cycle where all testing systems are characterized. This stage is likewise called the Test Strategy stage. All the features in the testing activities are planned and put into a document this is called ‘test planning’. Right now, Test Manager (or Test Lead dependent on organization to organization) is required to decide the exertion and quotes for the whole venture. This stage will be commenced once the necessity gathering stage is finished and dependent on the prerequisite investigation, and begin setting up the Test Plan. The Result of Test Planning stage will be Test Plan or Test system and Testing Effort estimation archives. When the test arranging stage is finished the QA group can begin with test cases development activity.

Phase 3: Test Case Development

The test case development activity is begun once the test arranging action is done. This is the period of STLC where testing groups record the definite experiments. Alongside experiments, the testing group likewise set up the test information if any required for testing. Test cases are written for all the newly implemented features that need to be tested. When the experiments are prepared then these experiments are inspected by peer individuals or QA lead. 

Likewise, the Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM) is readied. The Requirement Traceability Matrix is an industry-acknowledged configuration for following prerequisites where each experiment is mapped with the necessity. Utilizing this Requirement Traceability Matrix we can follow in reverse and forward detectability.

Phase 4: Test Environment Setup

Setting up the test condition is an essential piece of the STLC. Essentially, the test condition chooses which conditions programming is tried. This is a free movement and can be begun corresponding with Test Case Development. During the time spent setting up a testing domain, the test group isn't engaged with it. In light of an organization to organization might be an engineer or client makes the testing condition. In the meantime, the testing group ought to set up the smoke test cases to check the status of the test condition arrangement. While deciding the environment all hardware and software details are taken into consideration like which Operating system to use, how many servers should be involved, memory space, test drivers, stubs, testing data.

Phase 5: Test Execution

When the arrangement of Test Case Development and Test Environment arrangement is finished then the test execution stage can be commenced. Right now the group begins executing experiments dependent on arranged test arranging and arranged experiments in the earlier advance.

When the experiment is passed then the equivalent can be set apart as Passed. On the off chance that any experiment is fizzled, at that point the relating deformity can be accounted for to the engineering group by means of the bug following framework and bug can be connected for the comparing experiment for additional investigation. In a perfect world, each bombed experiment ought to be related within any event to a solitary bug. Utilizing this connection we can get the bombed experiment with a bug related to it. When the bug is fixed by the advancement group then a similar experiment can be executed dependent on your test arranging. 

On the off chance that any of the experiments are hindered because of any imperfection, at that point such experiments can be set apart as Blocked, so we can get the report dependent on what number of experiments passed, fizzled, blocked or not run and so forth. When the imperfections are fixed, the equivalent Failed or Blocked experiments can be executed again to retest the usefulness.

Phase 6: Test Cycle Closure

Get out the testing colleague meeting and assess cycle fulfilment criteria dependent on Test inclusion, Quality, Cost, Time, Critical Business Objectives, and Software. Talk about what all went great, which region should be improved and take the exercises from the current STLC as a contribution to up and coming test cycles, which will assist with improving bottlenecks in the STLC procedure. Experiment and bug report will investigate to discover the imperfection dispersion by type and seriousness. When complete the test cycle at that point test conclusion report and Test measurements will be readied. Test outcome examination to discover the imperfection dissemination by type and seriousness.

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