User Acceptance Testing: What Is It? Types, Examples, and Values

The last and final step in the testing of any software program, User Acceptance Testing is one of the most important stages in software development. Missing out on adequate User Appearance Testing planning can generate panic within the team about the bugs and poor performance, while the application is nearly sent to the market.

It is mainly furnished to determine the various results about the particular software, such as how it meets the user requirements, its usage convenience, its interface, and more.

Today, let’s figure out User Acceptance Testing In Software Engineering with its types, examples, and values.

What is User Acceptance Testing (UAT)?

A type of software testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is performed by the end-user or by the client, just before sending the software program to the production process.

It is performed at last, when all the functions of testing are done such as functional, integration, and system testing. UAT ensures that the end-user will be comfortable using the system in all conditions.

Still, User Acceptance Testing is not a substitute for system settings. Besides, a tester verifies the comfort of using the application of software, the prevailing interface, and the gratification level of the end-user.

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When Is UAT Performed in Software Testing?

There’s a common myth is to believe that a QA team should confirm user acceptance in the last stage of the software testing cycle, the top tech teams choose to beta-test systems to obtain detailed reviews and bugs at every stage of development.

Testing user acceptance in the development cycle is a common practice among testing teams. Retaining a consecutive feedback loop is more productive than operating a single end-to-end user-acceptance test as it stimulates flexibility, gives more room for modifications, and helps to shine after the launch.

Types/Stages of User Acceptance Testing?

#1. Alpha testing

Alpha testing fundamentally occurs in the development environment. This test is run without the enrollment of users. Hence, it is only the QA team who performs this test.

In case, any error is found by them during Alpha Testing, the development team has to fix it before the software is ready for the second phase of user acceptance testing.

#2. Beta testing

The foremost crucial stage of any application or software program is Beta Testing. The firm has to run a beta test before launching the software.

Beta testing is also recognized as field testing. It is far distinct from alpha testing. It’s that type of UAT that’s performed with the help of real humans i.e users. While beta-testing companies request users to experience the software and point out the bugs and share their opinions about the usability and performance of the software.

#3. Contract and regulation acceptance testing

This UAT indicates analyzing the software against the provisions defined in the agreement given by the client. Similarly, the professionals have to confirm that the software is compliant with laws and regulations. Also, data safety is assured again at this stage.

The QA team tests the acceptance standards interpreted in the contract and inspections if the project meets them or not.

#4. Operational Acceptance Testing

User acceptance testing where users’ critical data and facilities such as user training algorithms, backup plans, the successful completion of security checks, and software maintenance processes are well analyzed and checked. It is also known as the Production Analysis Test.

#5. Prototype Testing

Prototype testing is performed in the initial stages of development, once the MVP is fully designed. Prototype testers accumulate the future users in focus groups and confirm the transparency of the interface. Furthermore, its correspondence to user requirements is also validated.

It enables users to discover errors and defects before developing the actual version of the product. In this manner, the design and development team can revamp the solution to enrich its ultimate interface and functionality.

#6. Factory Acceptance Testing

The QA team performs this testing before launching the beta version of the software. The process is usually accomplished throughout the development cycle.

Additionally, it is designed to substantiate the hardware and software units of the system. Factory Acceptance Testing encourages development teams to specify the reason for system defects, which is much more prudent than the tests that are required to be ready for end-users.

Values For User Acceptance Testing

Process Coverage

Process Coverage is the percentage of process coverage. This would compute how many business or operational processes have been analyzed. The issue with any type of coverage metric is that barely because something has been examined, doesn’t imply that it has been tested nicely.

Acceptance Criteria Coverage

If you have interpreted acceptance standards, this should be an effortlessly accessible metric and should be close to 100%. It’s calculated as just the amount of acceptance criteria tested divided by the total acceptance criteria, multiplied by 100.

Usability Metrics

Usability metrics are moreover beneficial in analyzing the value of UAT. Surveys and usability test scores can benefit in the determination of usage of the software under test.

Here, high scores can be a good assurance of design, while lower scores would imply that usability components aren’t being supposed. The value of the User Appearance Test would be to notice software that’s tough to operate before it lands on the customer’s devices.

Example of UAT

Consider, an online company has decided to launch a new mobile app. This new mobile app allows users to order commodities from their mobile appliances. The company has endorsed the development of the app to a development firm that mainly specializes in developing applications on mobile devices.

Testers who operate for the online company will conduct user acceptance testing. The testers have clarified the most common strategies, substitutes, and special scenarios. Also, several user profiles have been defined along with various types of orders.

Wrapping Up

In Software Engineering, in the development of User Acceptance Testing. UAT is one of the many best in use of testing that has arisen over the last 25 years.

With User Acceptance Testing the customer can be convinced “What to expect” from the software or application instead of assuming. Moreover, the best facts about UAT enable us to correctly predict the software’s appearance and performance. Also, there will be no fears of crashes and bugs when the product is successfully published in the market.

Hence, User Acceptance Testing is not only beneficial to the developer but also to the owner.