System Design Life Cycle | SDLC (Design) Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report System Design Life Cycle is defined as the complete journey of a System from planning to deployment. The System Design Life Cycle is divided into 7 Phases or Stages, which are:1. Planning Stage 2. Feasibility Study Stage 3. System Design Stage 4. Implementation Stage 5. Testing Stage 6. Deployment Stage 7. Maintenance and SupportTable of ContentWhat is meant by System Design Life Cycle (SDLC)?What are the Phases (Stages) of the System Design Life Cycle?Stage 1. PlanningStage 2. Feasibility StudyStage 3. System DesignStage 4. ImplementationStage 5. TestingStage 6. DeploymentStage 7. Maintenance and SupportDifferences between the System Development Life Cycle and the System Design Life CycleChallenges in System Design Life CycleModels Used for System Design Life CycleIterative nature of SDLCBest Practices in System Design Life CycleUse Cases of System Design Life CycleWhat is meant by System Design Life Cycle (SDLC)?The system design life cycle is a process that involves planning, creating, testing, and implementing a system. It includes defining system requirements, specifying how components will interact, and detailing the architecture. It ensures that the final system meets user needs, is scalable, and can be maintained efficiently throughout its lifecycle.Imagine it as a recipe for making a cake. You start by planning what kind of cake you want, gathering the ingredients, mixing them together, baking the cake, making sure it tastes good, and finally, sharing it with others. Similarly, the SDLC helps professionals in system development follow a clear plan from the beginning of the idea of a system to its ongoing maintenance.What are the Phases (Stages) of the System Design Life Cycle?The System Design Life Cycle (SDLC) involves following phases:Below is the objective and example of each stage of System Design Life Cycle:Stage 1. PlanningThis is where the project starts! You decide what you want to achieve (goals), how much you can spend (budget), and who will work on it (team). Example: A company plans to build a customer management system and outlines its key features and the team involved.Stage 2. Feasibility StudyBefore starting, check if the idea is practical. Will it work technically? Is it affordable? Example: The company checks if building the system is worth the cost and effort and whether it can deliver the expected benefits.Stage 3. System DesignThis stage is all about planning how the system will work behind the scenes and how it will look to users.Imagine designing a house, before construction begins, architects create blueprints that show where every room, pipe, and wire will go. Similarly, in system design, you create a detailed plan that developers will follow to build the system.Stage 4. ImplementationTransform the design into an operational system. Developers write the code to create the system based on the design. Example: The CRM system's features, like customer profiles and dashboards, are codedStage 5. TestingVerify that the system meets the specified requirements and makes sure everything works as planned.The CRM system undergoes various testing procedures, such as unit testing, integration testing, and user acceptance testing, to ensure its functionality, performance, and security.Stage 6. DeploymentAll of the hard work concludes at the deployment phase, when the system is made accessible for real usage. After all the planning, designing, and building is finished, it's similar like launching a new store.This stage involves transferring the system from a testing or development environment to a production environment where actual users can access it.Stage 7. Maintenance and SupportEnsure the ongoing functionality and address any issues that arise.Regular updates, bug fixes, and user support for the CRM system to adapt to changing business requirements and address any emerging issues.Differences between the System Development Life Cycle and the System Design Life CycleBelow are the differences between System Development Life Cycle and System Design Life Cycle:AspectSystem Development Life CycleSystem Design Life CycleDefinitionA comprehensive framework covering the entire system development process.A subset of the SDLC that specifically deals with designing the system.ScopeEncompasses the entire life cycle of a system, form initiation to retirement.Focuses primarily on the design aspects of the system.PhasesTypically includes Planning, Analysis, Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.Usually includes Feasibility Study, System Analysis, System Design, Implementation, Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance.FocusBroad focus on the overall development process, addressing planning, implementation, testing, and maintenance.Specific focuses on the design phase, detailing how the system will be built and operate.PurposeGuides the development team through the entire process, from concept to post-deployment support.Provides a blueprint for constructing the system based on specified design requirements.Challenges in System Design Life CycleBelow are the challenges in System Design Life Cycle:Sometime, the initial requirements for a system might be unclear or ambiguous, leading to difficulties in designing the system accurately.Requirements may change during the design process, posing a challenge to maintain consistency and ensuring that the system still meets the user's needs.Rapid advancements in technology can make it challenging to choose the most suitable and up-to-date technologies for system design.Ensuring seamless integration of various system components can be complex, especially when dealing with different technologies and platforms.Designing a system within budgetary constraints can be challenging, as incorporating certain features or technologies might be cost-productive.Models Used for System Design Life CycleBelow are the models used for System Design Life Cycle:Waterfall Model: A linear and sequential model where each phase must be completed before moving on to the next. It's a straightforward approach but can be inflexible in the face of changing requirements.Iterative Model: Involves repeating cycles, with each iteration refining and improving the system based on feedback. It's adaptable to changing requirements.Prototyping Model: Involves building a prototype (a preliminary version) of the system to gather feedback refine the design before building the final product.Spiral Model: Incorporates elements of both iterative and prototyping models. It involves cycles of planning, designing, constructing, and evaluating.Agile Model: Emphasizes flexibility and collaboration, with frequent iterations and continuous feedback. It's well suited for projects where requirements may evolve.Iterative nature of SDLCThe iterative nature of the System Design Life Cycle (SDLC) means the process is not strictly linear; instead, it involves revisiting and refining stages based on feedback and evolving requirements. This ensures the system remains adaptable and aligned with its objectives.Key Aspects of Iteration in SDLC:Refining Requirements: Stakeholders may identify additional needs or changes after deployment or testing. These insights prompt revisiting earlier phases, such as planning or design, to incorporate updates.Prototyping and Testing: Prototypes or early iterations of the system are developed and evaluated. Better performance and user satisfaction are ensured by improving the design and implementation based on feedback from these trials.Adapting to Changes: The system design is reviewed and modified to be relevant and efficient as user expectations, technological advancements, or corporate objectives change.The system may gradually evolve to satisfy present and future expectations due to this iterative process, which also ensures ongoing improvement and reduces risks. It's similar to building a bridge and then modifying it over time to handle growing traffic or changing conditions.Best Practices in System Design Life CycleBelow are the best practices in System Design Life Cycle:Invest time in thoroughly understanding and documenting requirements to provide a solid foundation for the design process.Maintain open communication with stakeholders to ensure their needs are understood and to address any changes promptly.Design systems in a modular fashion, allowing for easier maintenance, updates, and scalability.Identify potential risks early in the design process and develop strategies to mitigate or manage them effectively.Use Cases of System Design Life CycleThe SDLC is used in a wide variety of projects, from developing small applications to building large enterprise systems. Some common use cases for the SDLC includes:Developing new software applications.Enhancing existing software applications.Integrating different systems together.Replacing legacy systems.Developing custom solutions for specific business needs.By following the best practices and using the appropriate SDLC model, organizations can increase their chances of successfully completing their system development projects.ConclusionIn conclusion, the System Design Life Cycle (SDLC) plays a pivotal role in shaping the development of robust and efficient systems. By focusing on the design aspects, it provides a blueprint for constructing systems that meet user requirements and adhere to industry standards. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Must Know System Design Concepts T thesunpandey Follow Improve Article Tags : Geeks Premier League System Design Geeks Premier League 2023 Similar Reads System Design Tutorial System Design is the process of designing the architecture, components, and interfaces for a system so that it meets the end-user requirements. This specifically designed System Design tutorial will help you to learn and master System Design concepts in the most efficient way, from the basics to the 3 min read Must Know System Design Concepts We all know that System Design is the core concept behind the design of any distributed system. Therefore every person in the tech industry needs to have at least a basic understanding of what goes behind designing a System. With this intent, we have brought to you the ultimate System Design Intervi 15+ min read What is System DesignWhat is System Design? 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Authentication confirms a person's identity.Authorization establishes what resources or actions a user is permitted to access.Authentication MethodsPassword-based AuthenticationDescr 3 min read Performance Optimization Techniques for System DesignThe ability to design systems that are not only functional but also optimized for performance and scalability is essential. As systems grow in complexity, the need for effective optimization techniques becomes increasingly critical. Data Structures & AlgorithmsChoose data structures (hash tables 3 min read Object-Oriented Analysis and Design(OOAD)Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) is a way to design software by thinking of everything as objects similar to real-life things. In OOAD, we first understand what the system needs to do, then identify key objects, and finally decide how these objects will work together. 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Data Partitioning Techniques in System DesignTable of Conten 9 min read How to Prepare for Low-Level Design Interviews?Low-Level Design (LLD) interviews are crucial for many tech roles, especially for software developers and engineers. These interviews test your ability to design detailed components and interactions within a system, ensuring that you can translate high-level requirements into concrete implementation 4 min read Essential Security Measures in System DesignWith various threats like cyberattacks, Data Breaches, and other Vulnerabilities, it has become very important for system administrators to incorporate robust security measures into their systems. Some of the key reasons are given below:Protection Against Cyber Threats: Data Breaches, Hacking, DoS a 8 min read Design PatternsSoftware Design Patterns TutorialSoftware design patterns are important tools developers, providing proven solutions to common problems encountered during software development. Reusable solutions for typical software design challenges are known as design patterns. Provide a standard terminology and are specific to particular scenar 9 min read Creational Design PatternsCreational Design Patterns focus on the process of object creation or problems related to object creation. They help in making a system independent of how its objects are created, composed, and represented. Creational patterns give a lot of flexibility in what gets created, who creates it, and how i 4 min read Structural Design PatternsStructural Design Patterns are solutions in software design that focus on how classes and objects are organized to form larger, functional structures. These patterns help developers simplify relationships between objects, making code more efficient, flexible, and easy to maintain. By using structura 7 min read Behavioral Design PatternsBehavioral design patterns are a category of design patterns that focus on the interactions and communication between objects. They help define how objects collaborate and distribute responsibility among them, making it easier to manage complex control flow and communication in a system. Table of Co 5 min read Design Patterns Cheat Sheet - When to Use Which Design Pattern?In system design, selecting the right design pattern is related to choosing the right tool for the job. It's essential for crafting scalable, maintainable, and efficient systems. Yet, among a lot of options, the decision can be difficult. This Design Patterns Cheat Sheet serves as a guide, helping y 7 min read Interview Guide for System DesignHow to Crack System Design Interview Round?In the System Design Interview round, You will have to give a clear explanation about designing large scalable distributed systems to the interviewer. This round may be challenging and complex for you because you are supposed to cover all the topics and tradeoffs within this limited time frame, whic 9 min read System Design Interview Questions and Answers [2025]In the hiring procedure, system design interviews play a significant role for many tech businesses, particularly those that develop large, reliable software systems. In order to satisfy requirements like scalability, reliability, performance, and maintainability, an extensive plan for the system's a 7 min read Most Commonly Asked System Design Interview Problems/QuestionsThis System Design Interview Guide will provide the most commonly asked system design interview questions and equip you with the knowledge and techniques needed to design, build, and scale your robust applications, for professionals and newbiesBelow are a list of most commonly asked interview proble 1 min read 5 Common System Design Concepts for Interview PreparationIn the software engineering interview process system design round has become a standard part of the interview. The main purpose of this round is to check the ability of a candidate to build a complex and large-scale system. Due to the lack of experience in building a large-scale system a lot of engi 12 min read 5 Tips to Crack Low-Level System Design InterviewsCracking low-level system design interviews can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can master them. This article provides five essential tips to help you succeed. These tips will guide you through the preparation process. Learn how to break down complex problems, communicate effectivel 6 min read Like