What is Software Development Life Cycle ( SDLC )? Learn SDLC Phases, Process, and Models: Software Development Life Cycle ( SDLC ) is a framework that defines the steps involved in the development of software at each phase. It covers the detailed plan for building, deploying and maintaining the software. The software development lifecycle (SDLC) is a structured and iterative methodology used by development teams to build, deploy and maintain software systems. SDLC, or software development life cycle , is a methodology that defines the entire procedure of software development step-by-step. The goal of the SDLC life cycle model is to deliver high-quality, maintainable software that meets the user's requirements. What is the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)? The Software Development Life Cycle , commonly abbreviated as SDLC, is a systematic process used by software developers to design, develop, test, and deploy software applications. Think of it as a recipe for baking a cake—each step must be followed in a specific order to achieve the desired result.