User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is the final phase of the software testing process. During UAT, end-users test the software to make sure it can handle required tasks in real-world scenarios while sticking to specifications.
UAT can be implemented by making software available for a free beta trial on the internet or through an in-house testing team comprised of software users.
The following steps are involved in an in-house UAT:
Planning: The UAT strategy is outlined during the planning step.
Designing test cases: Test cases are designed to cover all the functional scenarios of the software in real-world usage. They are designed simply to make the process easier for the testers.
Selection of testing team: The testing team is comprised of end users.
Executing test cases and documenting: The testing team executes the designed test cases and sometimes adds in some relevant random tests. All bugs are logged in a testing document with relevant comments.
Bug fixing: Responding to the bugs found by the testing team, the software development team makes final adjustments to the code to make the software bug-free.
Sign-off: When all bugs have been fixed, the testing team indicates acceptance of the software application. This shows that the application meets user requirements and is ready to be rolled out in the market.
UAT is important as it helps demonstrate that required business functions are operating in a manner suited to real-world circumstances and usage.
UAT will be familiar to those within Test Lead jobs and Quality Assurance roles.
