STLC (Software Testing Life Cycle)
// Definition
The structured phases of testing: requirement analysis, test planning, test design, environment setup, execution, and closure. Mirrors the SDLC at the testing layer.
// Related terms
SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
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.
Test Plan
A document describing the scope, approach, schedule, resources, and deliverables for testing a release or feature. Narrower and more time-bound than a test strategy.
Test Strategy
The high-level, organisation-wide approach to testing — what gets tested, by whom, with what tools, at what stage. Broader and more permanent than a test plan.
Learn more · Software Testing Fundamentals
Chapter 2 · Lesson 2: Software Testing Lifecycle