What does the testing phase entail in the SDLC?

The testing phase in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is primarily focused on evaluating the system to ensure that it meets the specified requirements and functions correctly. This phase involves performing various types of testing, including system testing, which assesses the integrated software for defects, performance, and reliability under different conditions.

Additionally, writing test conditions is a critical part of this phase, as it involves articulating the specific conditions under which the software will be tested. This ensures that testers know what criteria to evaluate and allows them to verify that the system behaves as expected. The outcomes of this phase are essential for validating the software before it goes live, as they help identify any issues that need to be addressed.

In contrast, the other options are related to different phases within the SDLC. Developing a project plan is part of the planning phase, building the technical architecture pertains to the design or development phase, and gathering business requirements is part of the requirements gathering phase. Each of these activities is important in its respective stage, but they do not directly address what occurs during the testing phase.