User Acceptance Testing: Purpose and Types

User Acceptance Testing (UAT), a critical stage in the software development process, is a topic covered in the blog. User acceptance testing, or UAT, ensures the software satisfies their needs and expectations. The blog offers an in-depth tutorial on the best methods, tactics, and advice for efficient UAT.

The blog emphasizes the importance of UAT in ensuring that the software is user-friendly and meets the end user's expectations. Overall, the blog aims to educate the readers on the significance of UAT in software development and how it can benefit the project's success.

User acceptance testing, also known as acceptance testing or end-user testing, Understanding the different software testing phases is crucial for ensuring the quality and reliability of a product that happens before a customer or client acknowledges the new application. 

Acceptance testing is a discovery framework test determining whether the customer approves the application/programming. Incorporating top user interface design principles, such as simplicity, consistency, and feedback can greatly enhance the usability and effectiveness of a software product

Software testing process plays a crucial role in the software production process as it guarantees and maintains the consistency of the software product. It involves different stages, namely unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and the last stage of software testing, UAT or User Acceptance Testing. Among these different levels of testing, UAT determines whether the device meets the end-user specifications and is ready for deployment. 

As a result, it is an approach to check if a formerly characterized "contract" between the engineer and the customer is as yet on target. Moreover, it guarantees that no prerequisite change has occurred and that everything is as it ought to be to fulfill the customer.

So in this blog, we will observe the following:

• The purpose of UAT
• Different Types of UAT Testing
• Prerequisites of UAT
• How to perform software user acceptance testing?
• Best practices of UAT

What is the Purpose of User Acceptance testing?

Once the software has been through unit, integration, and system testing, there is a need for acceptance testing before handing it over to the end user since developers have built software based on the requirements specified by the product owner. As a result, UAT ensures that the software meets the conditions and specifications made by the user.

Therefore, the purpose of UAT is:

• It validates end-to-end business flow.
• It gives an outline of the framework completion.
• UAT checks customer needs and catches client prerequisites in a straightforwardly undeniable manner.
• They recognize issues that unit or combination tests may have missed.
• It ensures built framework supports the day-to-day activities and functions of the organization. As a result, the product owner usually verifies whether the solution runs in full swing without any flaws and checks whether or not it meets their needs.
• It reduces the possibility of discovering post-production defects and helps with software product growth.

What are the Types of User Acceptance Testing?

UAT includes several different types of software tests. Let's get an outlook on the types of software user acceptance testing that are prominent and used by developers at a large scale in organizations:

Contract Acceptance Testing (CAT): 

In Contract Acceptance Testing, the developed software is tested against predefined standards and determination as documented in a contract. This contract, known as Service Level Agreement (SLA), incorporates the conditions explaining that the product owner will only pay if the developed software aligns with the requirements. 

Besides, this agreement also defines the time of testing, areas of testing, conditions on issues experienced at later stages, installments, etc. Sometimes, this agreement may occur during or before the product goes live.

Regulations Acceptance Testing (RAT): 

Regulation Acceptance Testing, also called Compliance Acceptance Testing, checks whether the developed software agrees with the guidelines of the governing bodies. In other words, the software should not violate the legislative and lawful rules and regulations defined by the government.

As a result, the developed Product/application to be delivered everywhere in the world needs to go through RAT, as different nations/districts have specific standards and guidelines characterized by their administering bodies. Therefore, if the developed software violates these guidelines, it won't be permitted in the country and is considered a failure.

Alpha Testing: 

Alpha Testing is performed during the development stage of software to assess its quality and stability. As a result, specialized testers execute the alpha testing before the release of the software. 

Here, the testers give feedback that helps to fix issues and improve the ease of use of the item. In short, alpha testing mainly focuses on identifying bugs and problems related to its usability and compatibility. 

Understanding the difference between alpha and beta testing is important for companies to effectively manage the software development process and catch any issues before the release.

Beta Testing: Beta testing, also known as field testing, involves subjecting the software to real-world testing by end-users. Here the end-users use the framework in their current circumstances and give continuous feedback and suggestions. As a result, it helps to improve the product and offers a pleasant user experience.

Blackbox Testing: Black Box Testing is a strategy for programming testing which breaks down specific functionalities without allowing testers to see the interior code structure. You can check several types of black box testing that are essential for ensuring software quality, including functional, regression, and boundary testing

Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT): Also referred to as Operational Readiness Testing or Production Acceptance Testing, it is non-functional testing that assesses the active availability of the software. 

There are several common functional testing types, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and acceptance testing. Moreover, it incorporates work processes for reinforcement plans, client preparation, and different support cycles and security checks.

What are the Prerequisites For Performing UAT?

The following are the primary entry criteria for user acceptance testing services:

• Business requirements should be available.
• Fully developed application code
• The software must complete unit testing, integration testing, and system testing.
• There should be no defects in the system integration test phase. However, cosmetic errors are acceptable before UAT.
• No defects during regression testing.
• All reported faults should be mixed and tested before UAT.
• All testing should have a traceability matrix completed.
• The acceptance testing environment should be kept ready.
• If the system is prepared for UAT execution, sign your mail for communication from the system testing team.

How To Perform Software User Acceptance Testing?

UAT is software testing, typically performed by the end users and is referred to as Beta Testing.

During the user acceptance testing process, the software was thoroughly evaluated by real users to ensure its usability and functionality.

Before launching a new software product, it's important to complete a thorough user acceptance testing checklist.

• Step1. Analysis of Product Requirements: Planning for UAT begins by examing the product requirements. These software requirements specifications would be the primary input data source, containing the entire scope of business and functional requirements. As a result, test scenarios are identified and developed during UAT. These test scenarios are based on the papers listed below:

1. The Project Charter
2. Use Cases in Business
3. Diagrams of Process Flow
4. System Requirements Specification (BRD)

• Step 2. Creation of UAT Test Plan: Creating the test plan involves UAT's admission and exit criteria, the strategy to test scenarios and test cases, and the testing durations.
• Step 3. Identify Test Scenarios and Test Cases: Most UAT scenarios should are covered by test cases. Therefore, identify test scenarios for high-level business processes and construct test cases with specific test procedures.
• Step 4. Test Data Preparation: It is better to utilize live data for UAT. For privacy and security concerns, data should be jumbled. Moreover, the database flow should be familiar to the tester.
• Step 5. Run the Program and Record the Results: Execute test cases and report any issues. Re-test bugs once they've been fixed. Moreover, use test management tools for execution.
• Step 6. Confirm that the Business Objectives Have Been Met: Business Analysts or UAT Testers must submit a sign-off email after UAT testing. If the software is approved, the product is ready for manufacturing.

What are the Best Practices of UAT?

Following user acceptance testing best practices, such as involving stakeholders early and often and defining clear acceptance criteria, can help ensure successful product launches.

• Early drafting of UAT plan for software.
• Before the UAT begins, prepare user testing methods.
• Test a system or application using data and a scenario from the real world.
• While testing the system, start to think like an unidentified user.
• Conduct pre-UAT sessions while testing the system.
• Set clear expectations and specify the UAT's purview.
• Test the usability of your website.
• Before starting production, hold meetings and feedback sessions.

Conclusion

To conclude, UAT is the last phase in software testing to identify and remove bugs and errors, and therefore, it is essential testing for software development. It reduces the amount of work involved during the development and maintenance and saves time and resources for the business. 

Software development is a complex process that requires careful planning, execution, and continuous improvement to produce high-quality products. Besides, several tools and types help mitigate the risk of failure and produce an advanced product per the end user's requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is User Acceptance Testing and Its Importance?

User acceptance testing is software testing performed by the end user to determine if the developed software validates against the business requirements. As a result, it ensures the software functions smoothly in real-world conditions and identifies and fixes any bugs before launching the software applications to the end users. Besides, it saves time and resources required for post-production issues.

2) How to Measure User Acceptance Testing?

To measure UAT, the most commonly used metric is Defect Detection Percentage. Therefore, the value for UAT will be in percentage. So, to find the deal, you have to divide the Number of defects found during testing by the total number of defects found by users and customers multiplied by 100.

UAT= Number of defects found during testing × 100

A total number of flaws.

3) What are the Stages of UAT Testing?

The stages involved in UAT testing are:

• Planning UAT
• Designing UAT
• Executing
• Confirmation of Business Objectives

4) Who Can Perform the User Acceptance Test?

UAT is performed by:

• End users
• Client's
• Business analysts

As a result, during UAT, most defects and bugs that affect the software's functionality and design can be rectified.

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