Introduction: Why Understand STLC?
Someone told you to "Understand STLC" when you signed up for a QA course, started getting ready for a software testing interview, or started your first QA job. You start to wonder what STLC really means and why so many people talk about it.
It’s common for newbies to be confused. The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is just the set of steps that testers follow to make sure they test software correctly. Businesses in the US utilize this method to make sure that apps work right before people can use them.
If you don’t have a disciplined way to test, you could overlook defects, the quality of the product goes down, and customers lose faith. The good news is that STLC is easy to understand. It makes sense and is easy to remember once you can see the processes clearly.
What is the Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?
The Software Testing Life Cycle is a set of steps that show how testing is done as software is being made. It helps testers stay on track by giving them a clear procedure instead of having them check features at random.
The STLC process makes sure that you have:
- Organized testing workflows
- Better communication between teams
- Higher software quality
- Consistent testing results
What is the difference between STLC and SDLC?
A lot of people who are just starting out mix up STLC and SDLC. Developers mostly engage in SDLC phases like design and coding, whereas testers concentrate on STLC phases.
| Feature | SDLC | STLC |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Making software | Testing software |
| Audience | Developers | Testers |
| Focus | Coding & Design | Test cases & Bugs |
The Steps in the Software Testing Life Cycle
Let’s go over the STLC steps one at a time.
1. Analyzing Requirements
This is the first step. Testers read requirement documents to figure out which features need to be tested. If you don’t understand how a login page should work, you ask questions here.
2. Test Planning
The Test Lead or QA Manager sets the limits of testing, estimates effort, chooses tools, and sets a time frame. Planning ensures testing is organized and efficient.
3. Test Case Development
Testers develop test cases based on requirements. A test case includes steps, test data, and expected outcomes. For example: Test: Log in with correct info. Expected: User is logged in.
4. Test Environment Setup
The environment must be ready before testing starts. This includes installing the app, setting up systems, and making test accounts.
5. Running the Test (Test Execution)
This is where real testing happens. You mark a test as Pass if the findings are the same as expected, and Fail if they are different.
6. Reporting Defects
When you find flaws, you use systems like Jira. Bug reports include steps to reproduce, screenshots, and severity levels.
7. Test Closure
The last step where the team makes a summary report covering bug counts, quality level, and lessons learned.
Example of STLC (E-Commerce Website)
Let’s look at testing an "Add to Cart" feature using STLC:
- Requirement analysis: Figuring out how the cart should work.
- Test case development: Writing scenarios for adding items.
- Test execution: Running tests on the cart feature.
- Reporting a defect: Finding a flaw that makes the total price wrong.
- Test closure: Final report confirming the cart works as expected.
Why STLC is Important for Testing Software
STLC helps groups test software in a planned fashion, cutting down on development costs and improving quality. It is also a very typical topic during QA job interviews in the US. Knowing STLC shows employers you understand how genuine testing works.
Things to Avoid When Using STLC
- Skipping requirement analysis.
- Writing test cases that are vague or hard to follow.
- Reporting bugs with incomplete info.
- Forgetting to retest fixed bugs (Regression testing).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is STLC in simple terms?
The step-by-step method testers use to check software quality.
How many steps are there in STLC?
Usually seven steps, from analysis to closure.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. STLC focuses on testing logic and processes, not programming.
Which tools are used?
Jira, TestRail, Excel, and Azure DevOps are very common.
Summary for Beginners
- STLC is the testing part of the larger SDLC.
- It ensures testing is systematic, not random.
- Mastering these phases is the key to passing QA interviews.
Ready to move forward? Try picking a website and writing 3 test cases for its search bar to practice Phase 3!