What role does the 'Testing' phase play in the software development lifecycle?

The 'Testing' phase in the software development lifecycle is crucial because it focuses on verifying that the software functions as it is supposed to. During this phase, various types of tests are executed to evaluate the software's behavior against its requirements, ensuring that all functionalities operate correctly and that any defects are identified and resolved before the software is deployed.

This phase helps in validating that the application meets the specified requirements, performs its intended tasks effectively, and maintains quality standards. It also serves as a critical checkpoint to assess the software’s performance, usability, and security, among other factors.

Gathering end-user requirements typically occurs earlier in the lifecycle during the requirements analysis phase, whereas deploying software to production is part of the release phase that follows testing. Refining project management techniques isn't specifically addressed during testing; rather, it relates more to overall project oversight and administration.