Lifecycle State

A defined status a product document or item passes through in PLM — such as Draft, Under Review, Released, or Obsolete — that controls who can read, edit, or approve it.

Why it matters

Lifecycle states are the enforcement mechanism for revision control. They prevent informal modification of released data and create the conditions for a traceable audit trail.

Cite this definition

Finocchiaro, Michael. “Lifecycle State.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/lifecycle-state