Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC)

Explain STLC with an example:

The Software Testing Life Cycle (STLC) is a systematic process used by testing teams to ensure the quality and reliability of software products. STLC comprises various phases, each with specific objectives and activities aimed at identifying and rectifying defects. Let's illustrate STLC using an example of testing a web-based e-commerce platform:

1. Requirement Analysis:

   • In this phase, testing teams analyze the project requirements, including functional and non-functional aspects, to understand the scope of testing.
   • Example: For the e-commerce platform, the testing team reviews the requirements documents to understand features such as user registration, product browsing, shopping cart functionality, payment processing, and order management.
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2. Test Planning:

   • Test planning involves defining the testing objectives, scope, resources, timelines, and strategies. Test plans and test cases are developed during this phase.
   • Example: The testing team creates a comprehensive test plan outlining the testing approach, types of testing to be performed (e.g., functional testing, performance testing, security testing), and allocation of resources for each testing phase.
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3. Test Case Development:

   • Test cases are developed based on the requirements and test scenarios identified in the previous phases. Test cases define the steps to be executed, expected outcomes, and test data.
   • Example: Test cases are created to verify the functionality of critical features such as user authentication, product search, add-to-cart functionality, checkout process, and payment gateway integration.
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4. Test Environment Setup:

   • The test environment is set up with the necessary hardware, software, and testing tools required to execute the test cases effectively.
   • Example: The testing team sets up a dedicated testing environment consisting of servers, databases, web servers, browsers, and tools such as Selenium for automated testing and JMeter for performance testing.
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5. Test Execution:

   • Test cases are executed in the test environment according to the test plan. Testers perform manual and automated testing to validate the functionality, usability, performance, and security of the e-commerce platform.
   • Example: Testers execute test cases to verify that users can register successfully, search for products, add items to the shopping cart, proceed to checkout, and complete the payment process without encountering any errors.
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6. Defect Reporting and Tracking:

   • Any defects or issues identified during test execution are reported in a defect tracking system. Defects are categorized, prioritized, assigned to developers for resolution, and tracked until closure.
   • Example: Testers document defects such as broken links, incorrect product pricing, validation errors, or security vulnerabilities and report them using a defect tracking tool like Jira or Bugzilla.
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7. Test Closure:

   • Once testing is complete, the testing team evaluates the test results against the exit criteria defined in the test plan. Test closure activities include preparing test closure reports, gathering lessons learned, and archiving test artifacts.
   • Example: The testing team conducts a final review of the test results, ensures that all critical defects have been addressed, prepares a test closure report summarizing the testing activities, outcomes, and recommendations for future testing efforts.

Throughout the STLC, the testing team collaborates closely with developers, business analysts, and stakeholders to ensure the delivery of a high-quality e-commerce platform that meets user expectations and business requirements.