--- description: Waterfall model is a sequential model that divides software development into different phases. Each phase is designed for performing specific activity during SDLC phase. It was introduced in 1970 by Winston Royce. title: What is Waterfall Model in SDLC? Advantages and Disadvantages image: https://www.guru99.com/images/sdlc-or-waterfall-model.png --- [Skip to content](#main) ## What is The Waterfall Model? **Waterfall Model** is a sequential model that divides software development into pre-defined phases. Each phase must be completed before the next phase can begin with no overlap between the phases. Each phase is designed for performing specific activity during the SDLC phase. It was introduced in 1970 by Winston Royce. [](https://www.guru99.com/images/6-2015/052615%5F1232%5FWhatisSDLCo1.png) Explain Waterfall Model in SDLC ## Different Phases of Waterfall Model in Software Engineering Following are the different Waterfall Model phases: | Different phases | Activities performed in each stage | | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Requirement Gathering stage** | During this phase, detailed requirements of the software system to be developed are gathered from client | | **Design Stage** | Plan the programming language, for Example [Java](https://www.guru99.com/java-tutorial.html), [PHP](https://www.guru99.com/php-tutorials.html), .net or database like [Oracle](https://www.guru99.com/pl-sql-tutorials.html), [MySQL](https://www.guru99.com/mysql-tutorial.html), etc. Or other high-level technical details of the project | | **Built Stage** | After design stage, it is built stage, that is nothing but coding the software | | **Test Stage** | In this phase, you test the software to verify that it is built as per the specifications given by the client. | | **Deployment stage** | Deploy the application in the respective environment | | **Maintenance stage** | Once your system is ready to use, you may later require change the code as per customer request | ## When to use SDLC Waterfall Model? Waterfall Methodology can be used when: * Requirements are not changing frequently * Application is not complicated and big * Project is short * Requirement is clear * Environment is stable * Technology and tools used are not dynamic and is stable * Resources are available and trained ### RELATED ARTICLES * [ Difference Between Waterfall vs Spiral and Incremental Model ](https://www.guru99.com/compare-waterfall-vs-incremental-vs-spiral-vs-rad.html "Difference Between Waterfall vs Spiral and Incremental Model") * [ How to Password Protect a Folder/File in Windows 10 ](https://www.guru99.com/password-protect-folder-windows-10.html "How to Password Protect a Folder/File in Windows 10") * [ 7 Best GPU Stress Test Program & Software (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/best-tools-stress-test-gpu.html "7 Best GPU Stress Test Program & Software (2026)") * [ How to Stop Pop-Ups Ads in Chrome (2026 Update) ](https://www.guru99.com/stop-pop-ups-chrome.html "How to Stop Pop-Ups Ads in Chrome (2026 Update)") ## Advantages and Disadvantages of Waterfall Model Here are the popular advantages of Waterfall model in [Software Engineering](https://www.guru99.com/what-is-software-engineering.html) with some disadvantages: | Advantages | Dis-Advantages | | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Before the next phase of development, each phase must be completed | Error can be fixed only during the phase | | Suited for smaller projects where requirements are well defined | It is not desirable for complex project where requirement changes frequently | | They should perform quality assurance test (Verification and Validation) before completing each stage | Testing period comes quite late in the developmental process | | Elaborate documentation is done at every phase of the software’s development cycle | Documentation occupies a lot of time of developers and testers | | Project is completely dependent on project team with minimum client intervention | Clients valuable feedback cannot be included with ongoing development phase | | Any changes in software is made during the process of the development | Small changes or errors that arise in the completed software may cause a lot of problems | #### Summarize this post with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Google AI **Stay Updated on AI** **Get Weekly AI Skills, Trends, Actionable Advice.** ##### Sign up for the newsletter Subscribe for Free You have successfully subscribed. 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