This International Standard establishes a common framework for software life cycle processes, with well-
defined terminology, that can be referenced by the software industry. It contains processes, activities, and
tasks that are to be applied during the acquisition of a software product or service and during the supply,
development, operation, maintenance and disposal of software products. Software includes the software
portion of firmware.
This International Standard applies to the acquisition of systems and software products and services, to the
supply, development, operation, maintenance, and disposal of software products and the software portion of a
system, whether performed internally or externally to an organization. Those aspects of system definition
needed to provide the context for software products and services are included.
This International Standard also provides a process that can be employed for defining, controlling, and
improving software life cycle processes.
The processes, activities and tasks of this International Standard--either alone or in conjunction with
ISO/IEC 15288mmay also be applied during the acquisition of a system that contains software.
ISO/IEC 12207:2008 history
2017ISO/IEC 12207:2017 Systems and software engineering - Software life cycle processes
2008ISO/IEC 12207:2008 Systems and software engineering - Software life cycle processes