SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
// Definition
The stages a product passes through from concept to retirement: requirements, design, implementation, verification, deployment, maintenance. The container that the testing life cycle (STLC) sits inside.
// Related terms
STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)
The structured phases of testing: requirement analysis, test planning, test design, environment setup, execution, and closure. Mirrors the SDLC at the testing layer.
Shift-Left
Moving testing earlier in the development lifecycle — running tests at design and code-review time, not just before release. Goal: find defects when they're cheapest to fix.
UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
Verification by end users or business stakeholders that the system meets their real-world needs. The final validation gate before release.
Learn more · Software Testing Fundamentals
Chapter 2 · Lesson 1: Software Development Lifecycle