TL;DR

Acceptance testing is a type of software testing performed to determine whether a system meets the specified requirements and is acceptable for delivery to end-users. It focuses on validating that the software meets the agreed-upon acceptance criteria and business requirements.

Concept

Acceptance testing is a critical phase in the software development process that ensures the delivered software meets the client’s expectations and requirements. It is typically conducted after the system has undergone various levels of testing, such as unit testing, integration testing, and system testing. The primary objectives of acceptance testing are:

  • Validating Requirements: Acceptance testing verifies that the software meets the specified functional and non-functional requirements, as agreed upon between the development team and the client.

  • Ensuring User Acceptance: The testing process involves end-users or their representatives to validate that the software is suitable for its intended purpose and meets their needs.

  • Identifying Defects: Acceptance testing helps identify any remaining defects or issues in the software before it is deployed to the production environment.

  • Establishing Acceptance Criteria: The acceptance criteria define the conditions that must be met for the software to be considered acceptable for delivery. These criteria are established during the requirements gathering phase and are used as the basis for acceptance testing.

There are different types of acceptance testing, including:

  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Conducted by end-users to validate that the software meets their requirements and is ready for production use.

  • Business Acceptance Testing: Focuses on ensuring that the software aligns with the organization’s business goals and objectives.

  • Contract Acceptance Testing: Verifies that the software meets the contractual obligations and requirements specified in the agreement between the client and the development team.

  • Regulation Acceptance Testing: Ensures that the software complies with relevant industry standards, regulations, and legal requirements.

Acceptance testing is typically performed in a production-like environment that closely resembles the actual deployment environment. The testing process involves executing predefined test cases and scenarios that cover the agreed-upon acceptance criteria. If any defects or issues are identified during testing, they are reported and addressed before the software is considered ready for deployment.