---
title: "software lifecycle"
description: "The period of time that begins when a software product is conceived and ends when the software is no longer available for use. The software lifecycle typically includes a concept phase, requirements phase, design phase, implementation phase, test phase, installation and checkout phase, operation and maintenance phase, and sometimes, retirement phase. Note these phases may overlap or be performed iteratively."
type: term
term_id: 511
language: English
language_code: gb
canonical: "https://glossary.istqb.org/en/term/software-lifecycle"
slug: "software-lifecycle"
url: "https://istqb-glossary.page/software-lifecycle/"
---

# software lifecycle

The period of time that begins when a software product is conceived and ends when the software is no longer available for use. The software lifecycle typically includes a concept phase, requirements phase, design phase, implementation phase, test phase, installation and checkout phase, operation and maintenance phase, and sometimes, retirement phase. Note these phases may overlap or be performed iteratively.

## Present in syllabi


- Advanced Test Analyst 2012
- Advanced Technical Test Analyst 2012
- Foundation Extension - Agile Tester 2014
- Expert Improving the Test Process 2011
- Advanced Security Tester 2016
- Foundation 2018
- Foundation V3.1 2018

## Translations


- [Deutsch](https://istqb-glossary.page/de/softwarelebenszyklus/) — Softwarelebenszyklus
- [Italiano](https://istqb-glossary.page/it/ciclo-di-vita-del-software/) — ciclo di vita del software
- [日本語](https://istqb-glossary.page/jp/%E3%82%BD%E3%83%95%E3%83%88%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A2%E3%83%A9%E3%82%A4%E3%83%95%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AB-software-lifecycle/) — ソフトウェアライフサイクル（software lifecycle）
- [Português (Brasil)](https://istqb-glossary.page/br/ciclo-de-vida-do-software/) — ciclo de vida do software
- [Polski](https://istqb-glossary.page/pl/cykl-zycia-oprogramowania/) — cykl życia oprogramowania
- [Português](https://istqb-glossary.page/pt/ciclo-de-vida-do-software/) — ciclo de vida do software
- [Čeština](https://istqb-glossary.page/cz/zivotni-cyklus-softwaru/) — životní cyklus softwaru
- [Dansk](https://istqb-glossary.page/dk/softwarelivscyklus/) — softwarelivscyklus
- [Svenska](https://istqb-glossary.page/se/programvarans-livscykel/) — programvarans livscykel
- [Nederlands](https://istqb-glossary.page/nl/software-levenscyclus/) — software-levenscyclus
- [Magyar](https://istqb-glossary.page/hu/szoftver-eletciklus/) — szoftver életciklus
- [Norsk](https://istqb-glossary.page/no/programvarelivssyklus/) — programvarelivssyklus
- [한국어](https://istqb-glossary.page/kr/%E1%84%89%E1%85%A9%E1%84%91%E1%85%B3%E1%84%90%E1%85%B3%E1%84%8B%E1%85%B0%E1%84%8B%E1%85%A5-%E1%84%89%E1%85%AE%E1%84%86%E1%85%A7%E1%86%BC%E1%84%8C%E1%85%AE%E1%84%80%E1%85%B5-software-lifecycle/) — 소프트웨어 수명주기(software lifecycle)

Read this term online: https://istqb-glossary.page/software-lifecycle/

Markdown variant of the HTML page at https://istqb-glossary.page/software-lifecycle/ — part of the
ISTQB Glossary (https://istqb-glossary.page), a linkable, machine-readable
republication of the ISTQB glossary under fair use. No affiliation with ISTQB.