What are the main phases involved in the software development lifecycle?

The software development life cycle typically includes the following main phases:

1. Requirements Gathering — analyzing and documenting customer needs.
2. Design — creating architecture and technical specifications.
3. Development — writing code according to requirements and design.
4. Testing — verifying quality and compliance with requirements.
5. Deployment — deploying and launching the product in the operational environment.
6. Support and Maintenance — fixing bugs, updates, and improvements after release.

Each of these phases is important for the successful creation and operation of a software product.