Life cycle: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used in biology and business to describe the stages an organism or product goes through from beginning to end.

• The life cycle of a butterfly includes the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages.
• A product's life cycle includes its development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline phases.

Often used in agriculture, biology, and finance to describe the phases of growth in a plant, animal, or economic condition.

• Understanding the growth cycle of crops helps farmers plan their planting and harvesting schedules.
• The growth cycle of the economy can be influenced by various factors such as consumer spending and government policies.

Commonly associated with software engineering and project management to denote the phases of development from initial concept to final implementation.

• Effective project management requires a clear understanding of the development cycle.
• The development cycle for this software includes planning, coding, testing, and deployment.

Use this term when talking broadly about the stages of life something goes through from beginning to end. It is often used in biology or in a metaphorical sense to describe processes in other fields.

• The butterfly's life cycle starts from an egg, then becomes a caterpillar, and finally transforms into a butterfly.
• In software development, understanding the life cycle of a project is crucial for successful delivery.

Utilize this term when discussing the stages a product goes through from its inception, through its design and manufacture, to its eventual decline or withdrawal from the market. It is commonly used in business and marketing contexts.

• The product cycle of a smartphone typically includes the phases of development, growth, maturity, and decline.
• Understanding the product cycle can help companies plan their marketing strategies effectively.

General context referring to the series of changes in the life of an organism or system.

• The butterfly's life cycle consists of four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult
• Understanding the life cycle of a business can help in strategic planning

Specific context related to the stages a product goes through from development to withdrawal from the market.

• The product life cycle includes introduction, growth, maturity, and decline stages
• Companies often launch marketing campaigns during the growth stage of the product life cycle