lifecycles

Lifecycles describe the series of stages through which an entity passes from origin to end, capturing how change unfolds over time. The concept is applied across biology, technology, industry, and social systems to explain predictable patterns of growth, development, renewal, and dissolution. While lifecycles vary by subject, they often include stages such as birth or initiation, growth or development, maturation, and decline or renewal.

Biological life cycles refer to the developmental sequences of living organisms. Many species experience growth, reproduction, and death within a life cycle, while others show more complex patterns such as alternation of generations, where distinct multicellular phases alternate between haploid and diploid forms. Some organisms undergo metamorphosis, transitioning through radically different forms during development. At the cellular level, the life cycle of a cell includes interphase, where growth and DNA replication occur, followed by division in mitosis and cytokinesis.

In technology and industry, lifecycles describe the progression of products, services, or projects. The product life cycle outlines stages from introduction to growth, maturity, and eventual decline or withdrawal from the market. The software development life cycle delineates phases such as requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Project lifecycles define a sequence of phases aimed at delivering a defined objective. Lifecycle assessment evaluates environmental and resource impacts across a product’s or process’s life span.

Understanding lifecycles supports planning, forecasting, and resource management. They can be linear or cyclic, with feedback loops, checkpoints, and potential renewal or discontinuation as conditions evolve.