During which phase is software checked for bugs and issues?

The software is checked for bugs and issues during the testing phase. This phase is critical to the software development lifecycle, as it involves systematically evaluating the software to identify any defects, errors, or inconsistencies. Testing ensures that the software behaves as expected and meets the specified requirements. Various methods are employed, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and user acceptance testing, to thoroughly analyze the software and confirm its quality before it is deployed.

During the design phase, the focus is on planning and defining the system's architecture and components rather than evaluating its performance. The implementation phase is concerned with coding and building the software, which is not the point at which bugs are identified. The maintenance phase occurs after deployment and is typically where updates and fixes are applied based on user feedback and any issues that surface post-launch. Thus, the testing phase is uniquely dedicated to finding and resolving issues before the software is released.