UAT (User Acceptance Testing)
// Definition
Verification by end users or business stakeholders that the system meets their real-world needs. The final validation gate before release.
// Related terms
Alpha Testing
Internal testing by employees or invited users in a controlled environment, usually after dev/QA testing but before broader external release.
Beta Testing
Testing by external real users in their own environments, often with a pre-release version. Used to validate UX and surface issues that don't appear in lab conditions.
ATDD (Acceptance Test-Driven Development)
Extends TDD by writing acceptance tests collaboratively with the customer or product team before implementation begins. Aligns the team on what 'done' looks like in concrete, testable terms.
Learn more · Software Testing Fundamentals
Chapter 3 · Lesson 4: UAT, Alpha, and Beta Testing