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Can You Explain the SDLC in an Interview?

Learn what the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is, the key phases from planning to maintenance, and why understanding the process matters for anyone working in technology, Agile, or product delivery.

Nan Ross

8/5/20262 min read

What Is the SDLC? A Simple Guide to the Software Development Life Cycle

If you work in technology—or you are preparing for a Business Analyst, Scrum Master, Product Owner, Project Manager, or similar interview—you may be asked a simple question:

“Can you explain the SDLC?”

The SDLC, or Software Development Life Cycle, is the process teams use to take a software idea from the initial business need through development, testing, deployment, and ongoing support.

The exact phases may vary slightly from one organization to another, but the overall goal is the same: provide a structured way to plan, build, test, and release software.

1. Planning and Discovery

The process begins with understanding the business problem.

Teams identify the need, goals, stakeholders, scope, risks, and expected outcomes. This is where questions such as “What problem are we solving?” and “Who are we solving it for?” become important.

2. Requirements

Once the problem is understood, the team defines what the solution needs to do.

This may include business requirements, functional requirements, user stories, acceptance criteria, business rules, workflows, and system requirements.

Clear requirements help reduce confusion once development begins.

3. Design

During design, the team determines how the solution should work.

Depending on the project, this may include wireframes, prototypes, user flows, system diagrams, database design, or technical architecture.

Design creates a bridge between the business requirements and the actual solution.

4. Development

This is where developers begin building the software.

In Agile environments, development is usually completed incrementally. Rather than waiting for the entire system to be finished, teams build and deliver smaller pieces of functionality over time.

5. Testing

Once functionality is developed, it must be tested.

Quality Assurance teams verify that the software works correctly and meets the defined requirements. Testing may include functional testing, integration testing, regression testing, and other forms of validation.

Business users may also participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to confirm that the solution meets the business need.

6. Deployment

After the software has been tested and approved, it is moved into the production environment.

Development, DevOps, infrastructure, security, and other teams may work together to make sure the release is ready for users.

7. Maintenance and Continuous Improvement

The work does not necessarily stop after deployment.

Teams monitor performance, fix defects, collect user feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement.

That feedback can eventually become new requirements—and the cycle begins again.

Why Understanding the SDLC Matters

You do not have to be a developer to understand the SDLC.

If you work anywhere in product or technology delivery, you should understand how work moves through:

Planning → Requirements → Design → Development → Testing → Deployment → Maintenance

Knowing this lifecycle helps you understand where your role fits, how your work affects other teams, and what has to happen before an idea becomes a working solution.

And if someone asks you to explain the SDLC during an interview, you do not need an overly complicated answer.

Focus on the flow of the work and explain how each phase helps move an idea closer to production.