What is UAT?
User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is carried out by the client or end-users to ensure that the software behaves as expected in real-world scenarios. It confirms that the system satisfies business needs before going live.
Objectives of UAT
- Verify software against business requirements
- Ensure system usability for end-users
- Identify gaps before production release
Advantages
- Validates system from an end-user perspective
- Minimizes risks of post-release issues
- Increases user confidence in the system
Limitations
- Time-consuming for users
- Requires clear business requirement documentation
- May delay release if major issues are found
UAT Process
- Understand business requirements
- Prepare UAT test plan and test cases
- Select end-users for testing
- Execute test cases and document results
- Provide sign-off for production release
️ Example
Example: A banking application undergoes UAT by bank employees to verify that transactions, loan applications, and reports work correctly before release.
Best Practices
- Involve business users early in the process
- Use real-world test data
- Define clear entry and exit criteria
- Ensure effective communication between QA and business teams
