IEEE 12207-2026

This document establishes a common framework for software life cycle processes. Its terminology can be referenced and applied across the software industry. It contains processes, activities and tasks that can be applied during the acquisition of a software system, product, or service and during the supply, development, operation, maintenance, and disposal of software products and services. This is accomplished through the involvement of stakeholders, with the goal of achieving customer satisfaction. This document includes those aspects of system definition needed to provide the context for software systems and services. This document also provides processes that can be employed for defining, controlling, and improving software life cycle processes within an organization or a project.



Revision Standard - Active. This document establishes a common process framework for describing the full life cycle of software systems from conception through retirement. It applies to the acquisition or development of software products and services whether performed internally or externally to an organization. Those aspects of software system definition needed to provide the context for software products and services are included. The document also supports the definition, control, assessment, and improvement of these processes. These processes can be applied concurrently, iteratively, and recursively to a software system and its elements throughout the life cycle of a software system. Users of the document can apply the processes and terminology to construct a suitable life cycle model, composed of stages that use selected processes. The process purposes and outcomes in ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023 (systems life cycle processes) and this document are fully aligned so that one may select appropriate activities from either document for use in systems with substantial software content.