Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC): Phases, Types and Benefits

• Software
• February 26, 2025

by Samar Patel

Maximizing efficiency in the software development process is what most business leaders seek, which is why over 94% of organizations practice Agile. Adopting a systematic development approach like a software development life cycle can drive the efficiency you are striving for. Read the full blog post to gain insights into how SDLC benefits your development process, the phases of the SDLC, various SDLC methodologies, when to choose each one, and more.

In today’s digital economy, businesses are becoming software-intensive, keeping every software development company busy with numerous projects that need to be delivered on time and with the desired quality.

This is not a task that can be managed by a team making spontaneous decisions as situations arise.

This challenge has led companies to adopt a structured or systematic approach to their software development processes. 

This approach is known as the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Let us first understand what this term means.

What is Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)?

The software development life cycle (SDLC) is a well-structured approach used by companies offering enterprise software development services to plan, develop, test, and deploy high-quality software. It enables development teams to deliver software that meets customer requirements and user expectations while avoiding pitfalls that increase the risk of project failure, even as needs evolve and market scenarios change.

What sets the SDLC apart is its ability to be both cost-effective and time-efficient. By following a clear, step-by-step approach, the SDLC helps teams avoid costly mistakes and rework, ensuring that projects stay on schedule and within budget.

By dividing the software development process into phases such as planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance, the SDLC ensures that software is developed systematically. It provides complete visibility and control over the entire process.

The 7 Phases of the Software Development Life Cycle

As we know, the SDLC is a structured approach comprising a bifurcated software development process. Here are each of the steps involved in the software system development life cycle that can help you better navigate the complexities of software development projects:

Phase 1: Planning

The planning stage of software development involves defining the scope and establishing the project’s goals. It helps clarify what problems the software will solve, who the users are, and more.

A dedicated software development team collaborates with shareholders (internal as well as external) to define the project’s scope, assess risks, conduct a feasibility study, set clear objectives, create a timeline, establish milestones, conduct a cost-benefit analysis, and allocate resources.

This stage clearly outlines what needs to be done, how it will be done, by whom, and by when.
More than that, it defines what is “not” to be done, helping to prevent scope creep during later software development lifecycle phases. 

Learn more about the discovery phase in software development. 

Phase 2: Defining Requirements

Simply put, this phase of the SDLC involves turning the data gathered in the planning stage into actionable insights. It also includes gathering more specific requirements, such as functional, technical, and business requirements, among others.

In this SDLC stage, the project lead/manager documents the defined requirements (e.g., Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document, use cases/user stories, etc.) to help the software development team stay on track during project execution.

These requirements are then validated by stakeholders (customers, market analysts, project managers, etc.). Upon approval, the project moves to the design phase of the SDLC.

Phase 3: Design

This phase of the SDLC involves the creation of a software architecture design. Using the defined requirements, the development team creates a blueprint (high-level design and low-level design) of how the software will function upon development.

It goes beyond user interface design, including wireframes or prototypes, with specifications about user flow, experience design, and more. It also involves database design (schema design, data models, data flow, etc.), selecting the best technology stack, assessing the feasibility of integrating existing modules, planning security measures, and more.

These details are then documented in the System Design Document (SDD). The SDD serves as a guide to be used by dedicated developers for hire in the next SDLC phase, just as the SRS document served as a reference for designers and developers during this stage.

Phase 4: Development

This is the stage of the SDLC where the requirements and designs are turned into functional software. It is where the actual coding happens. 

The assigned implementation team uses the SDD and SRS documents as guidelines to understand the detailed execution plan of the project. This includes the programming languages and development tools to be used, the software development methodology to be followed, the security measures to be implemented, and more. Based on this, they start working on building the frontend, backend, APIs, and other components.

These documents also serve as reference points for the project manager to track milestones, monitor timelines, and assign daily tasks among the team members, including the software developers for hire, to ensure smooth and timely completion of project goals.

In some cases, the testing phase runs simultaneously to ensure that each developed module is bug-free.

Phase 5: Testing

This phase of the Software Development Life Cycle is all about scrutinizing the code to ensure that all bugs are identified and resolved before the software is launched. 

QA engineers for hire use both manual and automated testing to detect bugs and verify that the developed product meets user requirements, meets the quality requirements mentioned in the SRS document, and performs optimally. The QA teams also evaluate the user experience (UX) gaps, conduct user acceptance testing, and more.

Here are the types of software testing conducted during this stage:

• Unit Testing
• System Testing
• Integration Testing
• User Acceptance Testing

Phase 6: Deployment

Once all bugs are fixed and the quality requirements outlined in the SRS document are met, it’s time to deploy the software into the production environment for users to access. 

This typically calls for the project manager to initiate a pilot launch or beta testing, which is releasing the software to a selected group of users. The goal is to gather feedback on user adoption, user experience, workflow, and more. Based on this feedback, the software is then improved to ensure it meets user expectations before the full public release. 

Most teams opt for CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, GitLab, and others to automate the deployment process.

Learn more about CI/CD and DevOps services.

Phase 7. Maintenance

The real world is designed to change. Over time, user expectations evolve, which can lead to software becoming irrelevant or the user experience becoming obsolete. This creates a need for continuous software maintenance.

But it’s not just about user expectations. The technology used to develop the software also evolves, with new versions and updates released to meet modern technical requirements. From a security standpoint, developers must ensure that security measures and protocols are kept up to date. 

It also includes adding new features, ensuring that the software retains its optimal performance over time, and finding ways to ensure consistent software improvement.

Types of Software Development Life Cycle Models

Each project is unique, and so are the software development process requirements. This is where various software development methodologies come in, each offering a distinctive SDLC process according to your specific needs and project constraints.

Here are some of the popular software development life cycle models:

Agile

Agile is an SDLC methodology that enables the development team to break down their project into small, manageable units called sprints. This methodology is characterized by its iterative and incremental approach, which emphasizes collaboration, flexibility to adapt, and customer feedback.

When to use Agile:

• Suitable for projects where the requirements may change frequently based on customer feedback or market conditions.
• When a project requires frequent updates and rapid delivery of new features.
• Best suited for projects where team members need to work closely with customers and adapt to changes dynamically.

Learn more about how Agile software development empowers enterprises to scale and innovate. 

Waterfall

The Waterfall model is a linear and sequential approach where a developer can move to the next phase of development only upon completing the current phase.

When to use Waterfall:

• Ideal for projects with clear and fixed requirements that are unlikely to change.
• Suitable for small projects with a fixed scope that does not need to adapt to new or evolving requirements.
• Best for projects where both the technology and the environment are stable and well-understood.

Learn more about Waterfall vs/ Scrum.

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

The RAD model emphasizes rapid prototyping and iterative development rather than extensive planning. This means that development teams work on creating prototypes early in the software development process to gather feedback and then make adjustments to the prototypes before further developing the software.

When to use RAD:

• Ideal for projects where time-to-market is crucial and quicker development cycles are needed.
• When requirements are not fully defined at the start, iterative feedback is necessary to refine the product.
• For projects where user feedback is critical for improving the final product and guiding further development.

V-model

Also known as the Verification or Validation model, this model is an extension of the Waterfall model. Unlike the Waterfall model, which is linear, the V-Model follows a V-shaped approach, emphasizing parallel testing phases for each development stage. It ensures that each development phase is validated against requirements and verified through corresponding testing.

When to use the V-Model:

• Ideal for projects where quality assurance is a critical factor.
• Best for projects that have well-defined requirements and need rigorous testing and validation.

Spiral

As the name suggests, this model involves repeating cycles or spirals, which combine iterative development with the Waterfall model to enhance risk management (its primary focus).

When to use the Spiral Model:

• Ideal for complex and large-scale projects where risk management and iterative refinement are crucial.
• Useful when requirements are expected to change over time, allowing for iterative adjustments and refinements.

Iterative

Derived from the word “iteration,” this model involves repeated cycles of development, testing, and evaluation. With each iteration, the development team can improve and refine the software version based on customer feedback.

When to use the Iterative Model:

• Ideal for projects where incremental improvements and refinements are needed.
• Suitable for projects where requirements are not fully defined at the start and may evolve as development progresses.
• Useful when frequent feedback from users is needed to guide the development process and make adjustments.

Incremental

The Incremental model involves building the software in small, manageable increments or segments. Each increment adds new functionality to the existing system, allowing for partial deployment and use.

When to use the Incremental Model:

• Ideal for projects where the software can be developed in distinct, functional modules or components.
• Suitable for projects where early delivery of functional parts is beneficial, allowing users to start using parts of the system before the full system is completed.
• Useful for large-scale projects with complex requirements, where delivering the system incrementally helps manage and control scope and resources.

Learn about these software development methodologies in detail.

Key Benefits of Software Development Life Cycle

Understanding the advantages of the SDLC is essential as it lays the foundation for delivering reliable and scalable software solutions. Here are the benefits of the software development lifecycle process in detail:

Enhances Product Quality

A well-defined software development lifecycle process outlines the specific tasks, responsibilities, deliverables, timelines, and more for every stage of the development process. 

This ensures that software developers have a clear roadmap of what needs to be done, how, and when, minimizing misunderstandings and miscommunications. This systematic workflow results in fewer revisions, reduced errors, consistent quality maintenance of the digital product, and ultimately improved overall product quality.

Improves Project Management

A systematic development approach ensures better task organization, efficient resource allocation, and improved timeline management. It helps stakeholders ensure the project stays aligned with its goals and follows the defined path.

With this benefit of SDLC, stakeholders and project managers gain greater control over the development process, increasing the likelihood of meeting project goals on time and within budget, without compromising on quality.

Enhances Communication and Collaboration

For a software or digital product to be developed as planned, clear communication and collaboration among all stakeholders, both internal and external, are essential. SDLC methodologies help break down communication silos and promote collaborative teamwork across all phases of development.

For instance, in the Agile SDLC model, daily stand-up meetings (scrums) bring together developers, testers, and stakeholders to discuss progress, roadblocks, and upcoming tasks. This regular interaction fosters transparency, ensures team alignment, and enables immediate feedback, ultimately reducing misunderstandings and boosting productivity.

Improves Project Transparency and Visibility

Apart from clear milestones and deliverables, the SDLC often involves using project management and visualization tools, enabling stakeholders, including customers and investors, to receive real-time updates on project status. 

For instance, in the Waterfall SDLC model, each phase is documented and completed sequentially, making it easy to track the project’s current status and identify any delays or dependencies. In models like Agile, visibility is further enhanced through tools like sprint backlogs, burn-down charts, and regular review meetings, ensuring that everyone involved has real-time insight into the project’s direction and progress.

Improves Risk Mitigation

Risk mitigation is integrated into every phase of the software development life cycle. Regardless of the SDLC methodology you choose, each model includes specific steps and measures designed to identify potential risks before they escalate and become costly. These measures include continuous monitoring, risk assessment and analysis, proactive mitigation strategies, and more.

The ability to detect risks early allows the team to develop mitigation strategies to address critical threats. Additionally, it enables developers to create a contingency plan.

Software Development Excellence: The MindInventory Way

At MindInventory, we are at the forefront of software development and technology innovation. We offer a wide range of custom software development services, including startup software development, enterprise software development, software product development, and more.

With years of industry experience, we offer skilled software developers for hire who possess the technical expertise, awareness of current software development trends, and proficiency needed to deliver cutting-edge and reliable software solutions. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of technology to deliver innovative solutions that drive success.

We have assisted businesses across industries in developing their software and driving their businesses forward. If you are looking for a strategic partner to achieve software development excellence, reach out to us today to discuss how MindInventory can help you achieve your software development goals.

FAQs on the Software Development Life Cycle