A lifecycle defines a sequence of states a file can encounter. Typically, lifecycles are designed for documents to describe a review process. For example, a user creates a document, sends it off to other users for review and approval. The lifecycle defines the state of the file at each point in the process.

The lifecycle itself is created using Documentum Composer and is deployed in the repository as part of an application. Documentum Administrator manages the lifecycles that already exist in a repository. All lifecycle procedures are accessed through the Tools menu in Documentum Administrator.