Full Guide to Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

Most development teams know their testing could be better. Releases take longer than planned. Bug fixes eat into budgets. Quality issues frustrate users and delay launches.

The problem isn’t that teams don’t test enough — it’s that they test inefficiently.

A well-optimized Software Testing Life Cycle can cut development costs by 30-40% and reduce time-to-market significantly. The difference comes down to structure: knowing what to test, when to test it, and how to integrate testing seamlessly into development.

Companies that get this right ship faster and spend less on rework. Their users report fewer issues. Their development teams work more predictably.

But optimization requires more than good intentions. You need clear processes for each testing phase, from requirement analysis through test closure. You need the right balance of manual and automated testing. Most importantly, you need testing that fits your development methodology — whether that’s Agile sprints or Waterfall phases.

The cost of poor testing compounds quickly. A bug caught during planning might cost $100 to fix. The same bug discovered in production can cost $10,000 or more when you factor in emergency fixes, user impact, and reputation damage.

Key Takeaways

#1. Cost multiplication effect. Bugs caught in planning cost $100 to fix. The same bugs in production cost $10,000+. Early detection isn’t just better — it’s 100x cheaper.

#2. Six phases, clear gates. STLC works through requirement analysis, test planning, case development, environment setup, execution, and closure. Each phase has specific entry and exit criteria that prevent bottlenecks.

#3. Methodology matters. Agile testing runs continuously throughout development. Waterfall testing happens after development ends. Your STLC structure must match your development approach.

#4. Shift-left saves time. Testing earlier in development cycles reduces rework, speeds releases, and cuts overall project costs by 30-40%.

#5. Automation targets repetition. Regression testing, cross-browser checks, and performance testing benefit most from automation. Complex integration and usability scenarios still need human judgment.

#6. Resource planning prevents delays. Teams without proper test environments, tools, or skills create project bottlenecks. Outsourcing specific testing activities often costs less than building internal capacity.

#7. Communication drives quality. Integrated testing teams that work directly with developers catch issues faster and reduce miscommunication that leads to rework.

#8. Metrics guide improvement. Track defect detection rates, test coverage, and cycle times. What gets measured gets optimized.

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What Is Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)?

Software testing life cycle (STLC) is a sequence of verification and validation activities carried out in the course of software development to ensure that the software under test is functioning properly. It aligns with the requirements set out before the development team. During the lifecycle, QA engineers may use a variety of tests alongside each other, including:

• Unit testing;
• Regression testing;
• Exploratory testing,
• Parallel testing;
• Performance testing;
• Automation testing, and more.

STLC is adaptable and flexible, allowing testers to choose and combine these testing methods based on the project’s requirements and goals.

STLC vs SDLC: What Is the Difference? 

Although these terms may seem very similar, they are not. Software Development Life Cycle (simply abbreviated as SDLC) is a systematic approach to software development that includes all the phases and activities required to build software. On the other hand, the software testing lifecycle is a subset of the SDLC process. It focuses specifically on testing a software product and accompanies the development of software throughout all of its stages.

Below, we outline the main differences between these two processes so you can better understand how they are approached.

In general, while SDLC is a comprehensive software development, STLC is responsible for creating a test plan to evaluate and ensure software quality using various testing tools. Both processes are important for delivering successful software, but they serve different purposes.

The Role of Software Testing Life Cycle in SDLC

As we’ve just mentioned, STLC and SDLC aren’t the same thing, even though they are very closely related. The main difference between the two is the tasks they pursue. For SDLC, it’s all about gathering technical requirements and wrapping them into a product with functionality discussed in the pre-development phase. 

When it comes to STLC, it performs several roles. One of them is to ensure that the requirements discussed in the initial stages of the product development are met. Another one is to test the code or application for errors, ensuring no bugs slip into the implemented functionality.

While not all projects require testing right from the beginning, most often both cycles run in parallel, with STLC deeply synchronized with SDLC in the development phase. EThis synchronization between STLC and SDLC allows for early detection of bugs, making it easier to address them before they escalate and less expensive to fix. 

Words by

Igor Kovalenko, QA Lead and Mentor

“People often underestimate the human element in STLC. Yes, you need tools and environments, but you also need skilled testers who understand both the technical and business sides. I always advocate for cross-training our QA team in domain knowledge — a tester who understands the business workflow will catch issues that automated scripts might miss.”

Entry and Exit Criteria in STLC

Most likely, you’ve heard about entry and exit criteria in STLC. However, since some people confuse these terms, we’re going to explain them quickly. 

In essence, everything is as simple as it sounds. Entry criteria are certain conditions that must be met before entering a specific testing phase. In contrast, exit criteria define the conditions that must be satisfied for a testing phase to conclude. 

For example, entry criteria may include identifying requirements for testing, setting up the required test environments, and having a documented test plan. Conversely, exit criteria require specific actions to signal completion of the software testing phase, which could be defect reports, updates on test results, certain test metrics, etc.

Ideally, one phase should replace another one only when the previous one comes to an end, but this doesn’t always happen, since the world of software development isn’t perfect.

Further down, we’ll take a look at the vital software testing stages, along with their entry and exit criteria. 

What Are the Stages of Software Testing

It’s time to finally dive deep into the software testing phases. In general, there are six phases of the software test life cycle. However, this number may vary depending on the chosen methodology (we’ll get there later in the article).

Also, it may vary based on the complexity of the project itself. For example, if your website was created solely for the purpose of marketing activities, it may not need to go through all the testing life cycle phases. In most cases, it will be enough to test it only partially. On the other hand, if it’s a banking app we’re talking about, thorough testing is a must. 

So, here are the important software testing steps QA engineers should perform: 

#1. Requirement analysis

The first step in the software testing life cycle is requirement analysis. During this stage, QA engineers closely collaborate with their own team as well as work cross functionality to study business objectives, features to be designed and supported, and stakeholder requirements, including functional and non-functional specifications. 

Entry criteria:

• Defining the types of tests to be performed;
• Choosing test environments;
• Gathering information about the development and testing priorities;
• Preparing the RTM (Requirement Traceability Matrix) document for the project.

Carrying out feasibility analysis for test automation (in case the QA team decides to automate certain tests).

Exit criteria:

• Creation of the RTM and test strategy;
• Approval of the test automation feasibility report. 

#2. Test planning

In the second STLC phase, the QA team assesses the resources and effort needed to carry out the project based on the data collected and processed in the requirement analysis phase. The key objective of this phase is to provide the project team with documentation, outlining the organization, approach, and execution of testing throughout the project, including testing schedule and possible test limitations.

Entry criteria:

• Defining requirements and scope of the project;
• Developing a test strategy;
• Determining roles and responsibilities;
• Preparing hardware and software requirements for the test environment;
• Preparing documentation necessary to launch the project.

Exit criteria:

• Finalizing allocation of resources and test plan document;
• Approval of the test strategy document and test plan.

#3. Test case development

With a solid test plan and strategy in place, the team can move on to the next step — the design and development process. This phase involves the creation, verification, and rework of test cases and test automation scripts based on the data from the test plan. The team is also preparing test data to flesh out the details of the structured tests they will run.

l test cases/scripts created in this phase will be continuously maintained and updated over time to test new and existing features.

Entry Criteria:

• Creating test cases and test automation scripts (in case the QA team decides to automate certain tests);
• Reviewing and writing test cases and test automation scripts;
• Creating test data.

Exit Criteria:

• Developing and approving test cases, test data, and test
•  scripts;
• Finalizing test design document.

#4. Test environment setup

The purpose of the test environment stage is:

• To provide the QA team with a setting where they can exercise new and changed code, provided by the development team;
• To locate possible faults and errors; 
• To contact the responsible developer, providing them with a detailed test report. 

When setting up a test environment, the QA team considers a whole range of parameters, such as hardware, software, frameworks, test data, and network configurations, to name a few. These parameters are then adjusted depending on a particular test case.

Entry criteria

• Setting up the test environment;
• Trying it out by conducting a series of smoke tests.

Exit criteria

• Test environment is all set up and ready to go.

#5. Test execution

The next part of the STLC process is the testing itself. At this stage, the QA team executes all of the test cases and test automation scripts they have prepared in test environments. The software testing process includes all kinds of functional and non-functional tests, during which software testers identify bugs and provide detailed testing reports to the project team. After developers make the necessary fixes, the QA team runs a series of retests to make sure that all detected defects are fixed.

Entry criteria

• Carrying out test cases based on the testing strategy documents;
• Recording test results and metrics;
• Re-testing fixes provided by the development team;
• Tracking every log defect and error until they are resolved.

Exit criteria

• Detailing testing reports;
• Updating test results;
• Completing the RTM with execution status.

#6. Test cycle closure

The final stage of the software testing life cycle phases involves several test activities, such as collecting test metrics and completing test reports. The QA team summarizes the results of their work in a test closure report, providing data on the types of testing performed, processes followed, the number of test cycles carried out, etc. This document ends the STLC life cycle.

Entry criteria

• Assessing the cycle completion;
• Preparing test metrics;
• Preparing a detailed test closure report. 

Exit criteria

• Preparation and approval of the test closure report.

To better understand how this works, we’ve compiled a table that visually outlines key stages of the STLC along with their entry and exit criteria.

From this point on, the project team strategizes for the application’s support and release. This includes analyzing all the testing artifacts and building a test strategy for the application’s further growth and expansion.

Starting with zero test coverage and tight deadlines?

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From Quality Assurance to Quality Engineering in STLC

Most testing teams still operate like crime scene investigators — they show up after the damage is done, document what went wrong, and file reports. But what if instead of finding bugs, you could prevent them entirely?

Companies implementing Quality Engineering practices report 60% fewer production incidents and 40% faster release cycles. The difference isn’t better bug hunting — it’s eliminating the bugs before they exist. This shift transforms the entire QA life cycle and redefines STLC in software testing from reactive damage control to proactive quality building.

The evolution from reactive QA to preventive QE

Quality Assurance traditionally operated as a gatekeeper at the end of development cycles. Teams would “throw code over the wall” to QA, creating bottlenecks and delayed feedback loops. This reactive approach often meant discovering critical issues when fixing them was most expensive.

Quality Engineering flips this model entirely. Instead of waiting for problems, Quality Engineers embed quality practices throughout every stage of development. The QA testing life cycle becomes proactive rather than reactive, with quality considerations driving decisions from requirements gathering through production monitoring.

Key differences between QA and QE approaches:

How quality engineers transform each STLC phase

Quality Engineers don’t just execute the STLC process — they redesign it for maximum effectiveness. Here’s how QE principles enhance traditional software testing phases:

Integrated Quality Approach vs Traditional Testing Handoffs

Software testing life cycle models traditionally created handoff points where responsibility shifted between teams. Each handoff introduced communication gaps, delays, and potential quality issues.

The integrated quality approach eliminates these handoffs by embedding quality engineers throughout the development process. Instead of discrete STLC with clear boundaries, quality activities run continuously alongside development.

Traditional handoff model problems

• Communication gaps between teams
• Delayed feedback on quality issues
• Knowledge silos that slow problem resolution
• Quality decisions made without development context

Integrated quality benefits

• Real-time collaboration between quality and development
• Immediate feedback on quality issues
• Shared ownership of quality outcomes
• Quality decisions informed by technical and business context

This transformation doesn’t eliminate the structured approach of STLC phases — it makes them more responsive and effective. Quality Engineers maintain the rigor of systematic testing while delivering faster feedback and better outcomes.

The result is a qa life cycle that prevents issues rather than just finding them, reduces time-to-market while improving quality, and creates sustainable development practices that scale with business growth.

Shift from reactive bug hunting to proactive quality building.

Our QE transformation reduces production incidents by 60% while accelerating releases.

Why choose QE over QA

Automation Strategy Within Test Planning

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: 73% of test automation projects fail because teams automate the wrong things at the wrong time. They chase 100% automation coverage instead of 100% automation value.

Smart automation strategy doesn’t start with tools — it starts with understanding which STLC steps deliver maximum ROI when automated. The most successful teams map their automation pyramid directly to software testing phases, ensuring each level amplifies rather than duplicates human effort.

What are the main stages in the automation testing lifecycle?

The traditional automation pyramid needs strategic timing across your STLC process. Here’s how winning teams align automation with each phase:

Unit testing foundation (Requirements analysis & Test planning)

• 70% of automation effort goes here
• Developers write tests alongside code during requirements analysis
• ROI: $1 spent = $15 saved in later phases
• Tools: JUnit, pytest, NUnit integrated into development workflow

Integration testing middle layer (Test case development & environment setup)

• 20% of automation effort
• API and service-level automation during test case development
• ROI: $1 spent = $8 saved in system testing
• Tools: Postman, RestAssured, SoapUI for service validation

UI testing peak (Test execution)

• 10% of automation effort
• High-value user journeys only
• ROI: $1 spent = $3 saved in manual execution
• Tools: Selenium, Cypress, Playwright for critical paths

This distribution works because it follows the STLC in software testing cost multiplication effect — the earlier you catch issues, the cheaper they are to fix.

Transform your manual testing bottlenecks into automated efficiency.

We’ll show you which tests to automate first for maximum impact on your STLC.

Automation testing we do

ROI analysis for automation investments

Before automating any test, calculate the break-even point using this formula:

Break-even = (Automation development cost) ÷ (Manual execution cost × Execution frequency)

High-ROI automation candidates

• Regression tests executed 5+ times per month
• Cross-browser compatibility checks
• Performance baseline validations
• Security vulnerability scans
• Data migration verifications

Low-ROI automation targets

• One-time exploratory testing scenarios
• Complex UI workflows that change frequently
• Tests requiring human judgment (usability, visual design)
• Edge cases with minimal business impact

Tool selection criteria for each testing type

Different software testing phases require different automation approaches. Here’s the decision framework that prevents tool sprawl:

Phase-specific tool selection

Implementation strategy for small web applications

When teams ask “explain how you would implement the software testing life cycle (stlc) in a small web application project,” the automation strategy should scale with project size:

This phased approach answers “at what stage of the project should testcases be prepared” — continuously, with automation scaffolding built from day one.

Words by

Maxim Khymiy, Automation QA Team Lead

“We track everything: test execution velocity, defect discovery rates by phase, automation coverage percentages, and environment utilization. But the metric that really speaks to leadership is ‘mean time to recovery’ — our automated testing pipeline can validate a hotfix and deploy it in under 30 minutes. That’s business continuity you can measure.”

Agile-specific automation considerations

Testing life cycle in Agile demands automation that adapts to sprint cycles:

Sprint planning. Automate test case generation from user stories using BDD frameworks
Daily development. Continuous unit and integration test execution
Sprint review. Automated acceptance criteria validation
Retrospectives. Automated analysis of test effectiveness metrics

The key difference from traditional software testing life cycle models is that automation becomes the primary testing method, with manual testing reserved for exploration and edge cases.

Success metrics for automation strategy

• Test execution time reduction (target: 80% decrease)
• Defect detection rate in automated vs manual testing
• Team velocity improvement after automation implementation
• Cost per test execution over time

Teams that nail automation strategy don’t just speed up testing — they transform their entire development process into a quality-driven machine.

Benefits of Implementing Software Testing Life Cycle

Planning testing ahead offers a number of benefits that directly impact the overall success of the project. With a well-defined SDLC, teams achieve better effectiveness, reduce the number of unforeseen errors, and stay in line with the established timeframe. Here are some more important benefits highlighting the importance of the STLC:

Improved software quality

The main goal of the STLC is to catch and mitigate bugs early in development, preventing them from escalating into major issues later on. This proactive approach ensures a higher-quality product, with fewer defects making it to the production stage

Enhanced user experience

By addressing problems before they become ingrained in the system, teams can mitigate faults on the user side and provide a higher-quality product with user-friendly and glitch-free features. This, in turn, can lead to a better user experience, ultimately making your product more attractive and competitive in the market. 

Effective risk mitigation

A thorough testing at an early stage allows teams to identify potential issues and vulnerabilities that may arise during development and take the right measures to prevent them. As a result, many of the bottlenecks that could have led to delays and costly rework at the later stages can be effectively mitigated.

Reduced costs

Fixing bugs early in development is a lot cheaper than in the production stage. For example, the cost of a bug fix in the planning stage is typically around $100, but if the same bug is found only in the production stage, the cost can skyrocket to $10,000 and even more. The problem with bugs is that they tend to snowball – if you miss something in the early phases, it can lead to a series of cascading issues that are far more difficult and expensive to resolve later on.

Streamlined communication

Integrating testing into development has a positive impact on overall communication within the team. Active participation of testers in the process along with developers and other stakeholders ensures that everyone is on the same page regarding requirements, potential risks, and progress and that they are moving forward in the right direction.

Smooth deployment

Finally, testing the product throughout the development process ensures that all the features implemented in the product function smoothly and the product is ready for release without any last-minute surprises. This not only gives you confidence that the product is aligned with user expectations, stable, and bug-free, but also speeds up time to market. 

STLC Challenges

Testing software products comes with its own set of challenges that can impact both the testing process and the overall project success. Let’s explore some of the most common challenges faced by QA teams to better understand how to navigate them.

Time constraints

Testing often gets squeezed into tight schedules, leaving limited time for thorough quality assurance. When deadlines are looming, teams may be forced to cut corners on testing, leading to missed bugs and potential problems down the line. If you don’t want to be in a position where you have to choose between fast delivery and quality, it’s vital to allocate enough time for testing in the planning stage when estimating the project timeline.  

Resource constraints

As products become more complex and advanced, it is essential to have both a skilled team and an extensive testing infrastructure. Without having a comprehensive set of tools, carrying out a full STLC becomes challenging (if not impossible). With this in mind, you should invest in the tools and technologies to support your testing efforts from the get-go. It can also be a good idea to outsource some activities from remote QA teams to overcome resource limitations. 

Words by

Mykhailo Tomara, QA Lead

“Resource planning is where I see most projects stumble. They budget for development but treat testing resources as an afterthought. The teams that succeed allocate testing resources — both human and technical — from the project’s inception. You can’t optimize what you don’t properly resource.”

Complex integration testing

Most products today involve multiple integrations with APIs and third-party systems. One feature might depend on various external services, each with its own set of requirements and potential points of failure, making testing these integrations highly complex. To manage this complexity, you can break down tasks into smaller modules. Furthermore, many specialized testing tools like Postman, SoapUI, and Apache JMeter are designed to help with testing complex system architectures. 

Evolving technologies

Testing, just like everything, keeps evolving all the time. Many new tools and methodologies are emerging, so it’s important for teams to stay on top of trends and integrate the best of them into their workflow. By encouraging your QA engineers to continually learn and attend training programs, you ensure that they stay up to date with the latest techniques and tools, and that their testing strategies are on the cutting edge.

Software Development Methodologies and STLC Life Cycle

As we’ve mentioned earlier, STLC may have various phases of testing based on the methodology used. Let’s talk about it in detail by taking a closer look at the two most popular models – Waterfall and Agile. 

Waterfall methodology 

The Waterfall model is the oldest and most popular methodology used. You’d be surprised, but even now, over 56% of companies follow this model to create software products, which shows that it’s still widely adopted across a vast number of projects. 

The beauty of the Waterfall model is its simplicity and linear approach. Every phase here strictly follows one after the other, providing an excellent level of predictability. However, the flip side of the coin is that it is rather challenging to go back if any issues are discovered at a later stage. Therefore, it’s best suited for short-term projects with well-defined requirements. 

The typical software testing life cycle in this model consists of the following phases:

1. Requirement analysis. In the Waterfall model, the testing phase begins after the development phase is completed. The testing team is focused entirely on gathering and analyzing the requirements to ensure they are clear, complete, and testable.
   
2. System design. During the next stage, QA engineers work on creating detailed test design documents and test cases that meet the specifications of the software design.
   
3. Implementation. Further on, the team works on refining and finalizing test cases, which is an important step for the next stage, where the code is completed, and the product finally moves to the testing phase.
   
4. Testing. This phase includes unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing, each of which verifies different aspects of the testing.
   
5. Deployment. Once testing is successful, the software is deployed into the production environment.
   
6. Maintenance. The last stage is maintenance. This is an ongoing process, during which developers deal with any post-production issues or necessary enhancements. The QA team may need to retest the software a few times until all the detected issues are resolved.
   

Agile methodology

According to surveys, at least 71% of businesses in the USA are adopting agile, while 29% of organizations have already been using this methodology for 2 years. 

Agile offers a lot of advantages that have played a crucial role in its widespread adoption. The most important of them is the ability to quickly respond to market changes and fix bugs on the spot, eliminating costly rework at the last stage of an SDLC.

Let’s look at the testing procedure in agile development. 

1. Planning. Like any testing, agile testing begins with planning. However, unlike the Waterfall model, in Agile, the planning is more dynamic and iterative. The team prepares test plans in sprints, collaboratively defining user stories or features to be tested in the upcoming iteration.
   

2. Test design. Test design in Agile is carried out simultaneously with development. The testing team creates test cases and acceptance criteria as features and user stories are being developed.
   
3. Testing. There can be executed different types of testing throughout the STLC in Agile, including usability testing, exploratory testing, regression testing, among many others, to ensure software quality. Each of them has its own purpose and is executed in different testing scenarios. 
   
4. Deployment. Agile projects often employ CI/CD practices, allowing for automated testing and quick deployment of new features. This minimizes the risk of defects at later stages and speeds up product launches.
   
5. Review. The next step is the review stage. At this stage, the QA team evaluates the results of the tests and designs strategies to improve the development and testing processes.
   
6. Launch. Finally, testers and developers plan for the release of the product. They decide which features and user stories are going to be included in the release and what necessary testing activities must be completed to ensure the product meets the requirements.
   

To summarize, the distinct difference between the Waterfall and Agile models is that in Agile, testing isn’t a separate phase but an integral part of the development process and is performed continuously throughout the project, right up to the launch. 

Best Practices to Improve the Software Test Cycle

Now that we’ve covered the essential phases of testing and their activities and deliverables, as well as specifics related to software methodology used, it’s time to move on to the best practices that can help you optimize your software test cycle. By optimizing your testing stages, you can achieve significant improvements in your flow, from reduced time-to-market and quicker launches in upcoming releases to improved software quality overall.

#1. Start with a testing strategy

One of the first steps to achieving a successful STCL is defining a testing strategy. The strategy should outline the scope of testing, budgets available, testing deadlines, and testing objectives. To help you create a well-defined test strategy, consult with all stakeholders, developers, and QA engineers on the team.

#2. Develop test plans

Once the strategy is formed, the next step is to create a test plan. Unlike the strategy, test plans are live documents, which means that they should be regularly reviewed and updated as the project evolves. Test plans usually cover the specific testing activities, test cases, resources, schedules, deliverables, features to be tested, team roles and responsibilities, as well as pass and fail criteria. 

Test plans should be easy to follow and help you check if the software is working properly, fast enough, and secure. Ideally, the team should cover both expected scenarios and edge cases to ensure extensive test coverage. 

#3. Prepare test cases

Test cases are an important part of the testing process that helps certify your software product. They act as a checkpoint to ensure that your product meets the set standards and quality. Therefore, it’s important to write them with attention to detail.

To improve your test case development phases, start by identifying the purpose of testing and user requirements. Testers must have a clear understanding of why the product is being developed in the first place and what features it must have to deliver to customer expectations.

In addition, it’s important to write test cases on time. The best time is in the early stages of testing, either during the requirement analysis phase or the test design phase. It is at this point that QA engineers can evaluate whether the test cases meet the requirements and make adjustments quickly. 

For test cases to be effective, avoid overcomplicating things. Each case should be easy to understand and execute, with a single, clearly defined expected result. This approach not only makes it easier for testers to evaluate software performance but also leaves no ambiguity.  

#4. Incorporate a shift-left approach

Shift-left testing is one of the recent trends in software development. This approach emphasizes early and continuous testing throughout the development cycle, allowing for early detection of bugs. As a result, if there are any serious issues found, they can be fixed in the initial stages of the software development process, rather than waiting for the last phase, where the cost of fixing bugs multiples tenfold. 

Shift-left testing doesn’t always mean executing tests early in development, though. Quite often, it means involving testers in discussions with key business users so they can figure out the requirements from a testing perspective and ensure they know what to look for when the coding begins. 

Of course, this approach is only possible in agile environments, where testers and developers collaborate closely on all testing activities. Therefore, if you’re still using other methodologies, it may be a good idea to make a shift. 

#5. Conduct formal technical interviews

To minimize bugs and defects at later stages of software development, it’s a good practice to regularly conduct formal technical reviews (FTRs). The idea behind FTRs is to test a product when it reaches a mature state, while remaining at an early stage to prevent major errors. Participants are typically assigned roles: reviewers, producers, and speakers. At the end, they all draw a final report that outlines the results of the meeting, including what was reviewed, who took part in the review, and what decisions were made. 

#6. Introduce code quality metrics

You can improve the quality of your software testing by implementing code quality metrics to help your team track success. These metrics can be any indicator that best fits in your workflow and allows you to effectively assess code quality. Here’s an example of metrics that can be employed for developing software:

• Reliability. This metric can describe the number of times the code failed and passed during tests.
• Security. An indicator of code security can be the time it takes to fix bugs and the number of errors found in the code.
• Maintainability. You can measure the code maintainability by evaluating the number of lines. In general, the more lines it has, the harder it is to adapt it to new requirements. 
• Testability. This metric can be used to outline testing technologies used to test the product, documentations attached, and the ease with which new test cases can be added and executed. 
• Performance. Your code’s ability to respond and execute actions in a certain interval of time can help you measure its performance efficiency.
• Usability. Usability can be verified through exploratory testing and measured by satisfaction levels.
  

#7. Implement automation

According to 35% of surveyed companies, manual testing takes up most of the time within a STLC. To address this challenge and enhance the efficiency of your testing processes, it’s crucial to implement automation. Automated testing allows you to execute tests in parallel, significantly speeding up time of testing and improving test coverage. It also reduces the chance of human errors, contributing to the accuracy of the results. 

Examples of cases where automation can be particularly beneficial include:

• Regression testing;
• Cross-browser testing;
• Complex, multi-step workflows;
• Load and performance testing. 

#8. Create comfortable work conditions for the team

It goes without saying that in order for the team to be high-performing, people should have comfortable work conditions and know exactly what they’re expected to do. With this in mind, it’s important to assign roles and responsibilities to the QA team during the planning stage. Typically, there are three roles: QA lead, Manual engineer, and Automation tester. 

Respect and recognize the individual strengths and contributions of everyone on the team. Also, support and provide opportunities for professional development. By investing in the skills of your team members, you not only amp up their capabilities but also show them your commitment to their growth. 

#9. Build Quality Engineering culture

Quality isn’t a department — it’s a mindset. Teams with strong quality culture ship 3x faster with 50% fewer production issues because everyone owns quality outcomes, not just the QA team.

Shift from “Quality Assurance” to “Quality Engineering” thinking:

• Developers write tests before code (TDD approach);
• Product managers define acceptance criteria with testability in mind;
• DevOps engineers treat quality gates as non-negotiable pipeline requirements;
• Business stakeholders understand that quality accelerates delivery, not slows it.

Red flags of poor quality culture: Blaming QA for production issues, treating testing as a bottleneck, separating quality discussions from business decisions, viewing automated testing as “nice to have.”

#10. Implement test automation strategy

Manual testing scales linearly — one person, one test at a time. Automation scales exponentially. But 70% of automation initiatives fail because teams automate everything instead of automating strategically.

Follow the automation value pyramid:

• 70% Unit Tests: Fast, reliable, cheap to maintain. Run on every code commit
• 20% Integration Tests: Validate service interactions and data flow
• 10% UI Tests: Cover critical user journeys only

Smart automation decisions across STLC phases:

• Requirements Analysis: Automate acceptance criteria validation
• Test Planning: Automate test selection based on code changes
• Test Execution: Automate regression, performance, and security testing
• Test Closure: Automate reporting and metrics collection

Pick the most repetitive, stable test first. Perfect it. Then expand. Teams that try to automate everything at once usually automate nothing successfully.

#11. Establish quality metrics and KPIs

“What gets measured gets improved” — but most teams measure the wrong things. Tracking “bugs found” encourages bug hunting. Tracking “bugs prevented” encourages quality building.

Leading indicators (predict future quality):

• Test coverage trends across software testing phases;
• Defect detection rate shift-left (% caught in early phases);
• Automated test execution time and success rate;
• Code review participation and feedback quality.

Teams that measure quality strategically don’t just build better software — they build better processes that compound quality improvements over time.

CI/CD Integration and Continuous Testing in STLC

Most teams think CI/CD means “deploy faster.” But without quality gates, faster deployment just means faster failure. Netflix deploys 4,000 times per day with 99.97% uptime because their pipeline treats testing as the accelerator, not the brake.

Pipeline automation for each STLC phase

Traditional software testing life cycle models assume linear progression. CI/CD flips this — every STLC steps runs automatically, triggered by code changes rather than manual schedules.

Requirements analysis becomes automated acceptance criteria verification on every commit. Test planning transforms into dynamic test selection based on code changes.
Test case development evolves into living documentation that updates with the codebase. Environment setup becomes infrastructure as code with automated provisioning.
Test execution runs in parallel across multiple browsers and devices.
Test closure generates automated reports with actionable insights.

Quality gates automation

Quality gates transform your STLC in software testing from a checklist into an intelligent decision system. Each gate answers: “Is this change safe to move forward?”

Five critical gates

1. Code Quality Gate (<5 min): Code coverage >80%, security scan passing
2. Unit Testing Gate (<10 min): All tests passing, performance regression <5%
3. Integration Gate (<20 min): API contracts validated, dependencies healthy
4. System Testing Gate (<45 min): End-to-end scenarios passing, benchmarks met
5. Production Gate (<5 min): Monitoring configured, rollback plan validated

Feedback loops and shift-left implementation

Testing life cycle in Agile demands feedback in minutes, not days. Smart teams implement four feedback layers:

Immediate (0-5 minutes): Pre-commit hooks, IDE integration, real-time metrics
Short (5-30 minutes): Full unit tests, integration testing, security scans
Medium (30-60 minutes): End-to-end testing, cross-browser validation, load testing
Long (1-4 hours): Comprehensive system testing, security penetration testing

Implementation priorities: Start with unit testing automation and basic quality gates. Add integration testing and environment automation next. Finally, implement advanced features like visual regression and performance testing.

Success metrics: Pipeline execution <45 minutes, false positive rate <5%, defect escape rate <2%, recovery time <15 minutes.

Teams that master CI/CD integration deploy with confidence. Their software testing phases become invisible infrastructure that protects quality while accelerating delivery.

Wrapping Up: Making STLC Work for Your Business

Optimizing your Software Testing Life Cycle isn’t rocket science, but it requires discipline.

The math is clear: early bug detection saves 100x more than production fixes. The different phases of the STLC give you predictable checkpoints. Matching your testing approach to your development methodology prevents wasted effort.

But knowing what to do and actually doing it are different things.

Most teams struggle with resource allocation during the stages of software testing. They either under-invest in test environments and tools, creating bottlenecks, or over-invest in areas where automation could handle the heavy lifting.

The key is starting small and measuring results.

Pick one phase of the STLC to optimize first. Track your defect detection rates and cycle times. See what happens when you shift testing earlier in the software development phase. Automate your most repetitive scenarios where the system executes the test cases.

The teams that succeed focus on three areas:

• Clear entry and exit criteria for each phase of STLC
• Direct communication between testing and development teams during the entire testing process
• Data-driven decisions about what to automate and what to test manually

Following a systematic STLC approach means each phase builds on previous phases. The testing process to ensure quality becomes predictable when you evaluate cycle completion criteria based on measurable outcomes.

Testing is also about managing both software and hardware requirements effectively. Testing may seem like just part of the software development process, but the important phases directly impact your bottom line.

STLC optimization pays off quickly when done right. Faster releases, lower development costs, and fewer production issues create a compound effect that improves every subsequent project.

Your testing of the software can either speed up development or slow it down. The choice is in how you structure the phases of the testing process.

If you need help optimizing your STLC or want an experienced team to handle specific testing phases, we’ve been doing this for years. We know which optimizations deliver the biggest impact and how to implement them without disrupting your current workflow.

Let’s make your testing process work harder.

Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) FAQ

What is the primary purpose of the software testing life cycle?

The primary purpose of STLC is to ensure systematic and comprehensive testing of software applications through a structured approach. It aims to identify defects early, verify that software meets specified requirements, ensure quality standards are maintained, and provide confidence that the application will perform reliably in production environments.

What are the phases of testing life cycle?

The typical phases of STLC include:

– Requirement Analysis: Understanding and analyzing testing requirements
– Test Planning: Creating comprehensive test strategy and plans
– Test Case Development: Writing detailed test cases and scripts
– Environment Setup: Preparing test environments and test data
– Test Execution: Running test cases and documenting results
– Test Closure: Evaluating testing completion criteria and documenting lessons learned

What is the typical order of STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)?

The standard sequential order is:

– Requirement Analysis
– Test Planning
– Test Case Development
– Environment Setup (often parallel with test case development)
– Test Execution
– Test Closure

However, in agile environments, these phases may overlap or iterate rather than follow a strictly sequential approach.

How does STLC impact project timelines and budgets?

STLC typically requires 30-40% of the total project timeline and budget. While this may seem substantial, proper STLC implementation reduces post-release defect costs by 80-90% and prevents costly production failures. Early defect detection through structured testing saves approximately 10x the cost compared to fixing issues in production.

What resources are needed to implement STLC effectively?

Effective STLC implementation requires dedicated testing personnel (typically 1 tester per 2-3 developers), testing tools and licenses, dedicated test environments that mirror production, test data management systems, and ongoing training for testing teams. The investment in these resources pays dividends through improved software quality.

How do you measure ROI from STLC activities?

ROI can be measured through metrics such as defect detection rate, cost of defects prevented vs. testing investment, reduced support costs post-release, decreased time-to-market for subsequent releases, and improved customer satisfaction scores. Organizations typically see 3:1 to 7:1 ROI on comprehensive testing investments.

What are the business risks of skipping or rushing STLC phases?

Skipping STLC phases can lead to critical production failures, customer churn, regulatory compliance issues, emergency patches requiring overtime costs, reputation damage, and potential legal liabilities. The cost of rushing testing is often 5-10 times higher than the cost of proper testing execution.

How should STLC be communicated to non-technical stakeholders?

Focus on business outcomes rather than technical processes: emphasize risk mitigation, cost savings, customer satisfaction protection, and competitive advantage. Use dashboards showing test coverage, defect trends, and release readiness rather than detailed technical reports. Frame testing as quality assurance investment rather than project overhead.

When should organizations consider outsourcing STLC activities?

Consider outsourcing when lacking internal testing expertise, needing to scale testing capabilities quickly, requiring specialized testing tools or environments, or wanting to reduce fixed testing costs. However, maintain internal oversight of test strategy and critical business logic validation regardless of outsourcing decisions.