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QA Foundations

User acceptance testing

Also known as: UAT

User acceptance testing (UAT) is the final phase where real users verify that software meets business requirements and works in real-world scenarios before release.

Where earlier testing asks whether the software works, UAT asks whether it does what the business actually needs. It is the sign-off gate before go-live, usually performed by end users, product owners, or QA acting as users, against agreed acceptance criteria.

Common forms include alpha testing (internal, early), beta testing (external users, pre-release), and contract or regulatory acceptance testing. UAT failures often reveal requirement gaps rather than code defects, which is why running it late but before release is so valuable.

  • The final sign-off: real users validate against business acceptance criteria.
  • Checks fitness for purpose, not just correctness.
  • Forms include alpha, beta, and contract acceptance testing.

Related terms

System integration testing Quality gate Release readiness

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Last reviewed August 2, 2026