In the Waterfall Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), what is the correct first step?

In the Waterfall Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the correct first step is the requirements gathering phase. During this phase, project stakeholders gather and document all the necessary requirements that the software product must fulfill. This involves understanding the needs of the users and defining the expected functionality and constraints of the system.

This initial step is crucial because it lays the foundation for all subsequent phases. A clear and thorough understanding of the requirements helps to ensure that what is built aligns with the users’ needs and reduces the chances of misunderstandings later in the project. Each phase in the Waterfall model feeds directly into the next, meaning that if the requirements are not well defined, it can lead to significant issues during development, testing, and deployment.

The other steps, such as development, testing, and deployment, depend entirely on the requirements established in the first phase. Therefore, starting with well-defined requirements is essential for a successful project outcome in the Waterfall approach.