Acceptance Testing: Ensure Software Quality and Reliability 

Acceptance testing is a formal testing type used to examine how far the system is acceptable to the users. The testing checks the program's compliance with functional, non-functional, and business requirements. It acts like the final checkpoint to deploy a reliable product/ service.

Some other purposes of executing these tests include seeing if it functions as expected and complying with the industry standards while meeting business goals and if it is secure. It is usually performed in the later stages of the software development life cycle (SDLC) before the product/ service is made available for users. 

The business reaches its customers globally with its website, which should always be ready for public use. Acceptance testing examines how users interact with the business’s product (website). Some integral reasons behind its execution are listed below. 

Acceptance testing checks if the software in the project development meets functional and non-functional requirements. For instance, the functional requirements include user authentication and authorization or data validation, and non-functional requirements include testing scalability, reliability, and availability.  It also examines other things like-

1. If the software meets the end requirements of stakeholders and end users.

2. If all the contractual terms are fulfilled.

3. If the software complies with relevant laws, regulations, and industry requirements. 

4. If the software is ready to be deployed in the production environment. 

Ensuring good functionality is just one of the benefits of executing acceptance tests. The testing also contributes to releasing the product with high quality, which readily meets the demands of its users. It does so by:

1. Delivering products that meet the end user requirements while improving the customer experience. 

2. Reducing the number of defects the users might encounter after the software is deployed. 

3. Building confidence among the stakeholders, developers, and users by making the release on time. 

The testing is known for identifying and mitigating issues early while improving operational readiness. It does so by working on different areas like-

1. Facilitating continuous improvement with a constant feedback loop. Continuous improvement works to improve the software development process by eliminating risks (like post-deployment failures). 

2. Testers address issues before the product reaches the deployment stage. Releasing a well-tested product reduces the chances of a negative user experience. 

How to Perform  Acceptance Testing

Acceptance testing covers tests to ensure the software becomes reliable and meets all requirements (business and end-users). A few types are listed below. 

UAT aims to examine if the product functions correctly for its different users (end users, stakeholders, and sometimes business analysts). It focuses on real-world situations and the overall user experience. 

Product development starts with a specific contract between the development company and the client. This testing ensures that the product meets all the specified terms and conditions in the contract. Its focus lies on contractual requirements, performance benchmarks, and deliverables compliance.  

The business’s product or service must comply with government laws and regulations; regulatory acceptance testing ensures the same. Compliance officers, legal advisors, and regulatory experts participate in this testing process. They examine data protection regulations and industry-specific standards in this process.

The testing relates to the operational environment. It examines software behavior in the production environment to ensure the product can be operated and maintained there. 

Alpha testing is done internally, within the organization. Whereas beta testing is done externally by a group of external users in to identify issues with the software (outside the organization). The former is done in an internal environment (the focus is functional testing), whereas the latter is done in real-world environments (focuses on usability and reliability).

System and user acceptance testing are integral to the success of any application but differ from one another. The differences are mentioned in the table below. 

Acceptance testing is the only testing that keeps all the users in the loop while developing the project. It helps to know what the user wants (direct involvement) and add features/ functionality accordingly. It ensures that you resolve the issues or the glitches before the product is released for public use so those problems do not bother them.