The software development life cycle denotes the stages of software development from ideation to its delivery to the client. There are seven stages of SDLC. The software development process takes place in a constant succession until the ideal software is created.

1) Planning: The planning phase comprises the perspectives of project and product management. The software developers map out resource allocation, procurement requirements, project scheduling, cost and time estimation, and other crucial particulars.

2) Requirements: Once a rough plan is formulated, the different IT teams assemble and weigh the functional requirements of the project. These requirements are gathered from business stakeholders and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs.)

3) Design and Prototyping: Software architects and developers commence the designing of the software in this stage. The architects define the frameworks and structures of the application, while the developers focus on the software development languages and technologies to implement. Architects and developers use numerous software development tools to eliminate algorithmic problems. This phase also includes rapid prototyping (spikes) to analyze solutions and execute the best option.

4) Development: The core development of the software springs in this phase. In this stage, the team of software developers produces a working model of the application. Moreover, a constant communication channel is established with the clients to ensure that the software meets their expectations, thereby avoiding extensive changes.

5) Testing: It is one of the most vital phases of the software development process. The developers perform a variety of testing, such as unit testing, code testing, integration testing, security testing, performance testing, etc. to ensure the quality of the product. After the completion of the testing phase, the functional software is ready for deployment.

6) Deployment: In most software development companies, the deployment phase is automated. Medium to large-size enterprises uses Application Release Automation (ARA) tools to automate the implementation of software to production environments. This phase yields the release of the working software.

7) Operation and Maintenance: It is imperative to ensure the proper functioning of the software after its release. By continually monitoring the software in the production environment, software developers can detect and eliminate any bugs or defects that may arise. This stage also caters to any additional needs of the end-user, such as fine-tuning the system, boosting performance, adding new features, etc.

This phases are followed by all custom software development company