The program life cycle refers to the stages a software program goes through from its initial conception to its eventual retirement. 1. Planning: This initial phase involves defining the problem, gathering requirements, and determining the feasibility of the project. 2. Design: Here, the system architecture and detailed design of the software are created, outlining how the program will function. 3. Implementation: This is the coding phase where developers write the actual program code based on the design specifications. 4. Testing: The program is rigorously tested to identify and fix any bugs or errors. This includes unit testing, integration testing, and system testing. 5. Deployment: Once tested and approved, the program is released to users or integrated into the target environment. 6. Maintenance: This ongoing phase involves updating the software, fixing new bugs, and making improvements based on user feedback or changing requirements. 7. Retirement: Eventually, the program may be phased out and replaced with a newer system.