User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is nothing but an end to end testing which the user for a particular period of time prepares. It is the final step before rolling out the application. This helps you identify if the software is able to handle real-time business scenarios or not. Some companies call it acceptance testing while others call it Final Acceptance Testing (FAT), while others name it as Red Box Testing (RBT).
The generic way of UAT often occurs before a client or a customer accepts a new system in software development. UAT is one of the final stages of a project. Usually, when the company develops the product, the user tests the application before accepting the application from the developing company.
So, How does this User acceptance Testing work?
To ensure effective user acceptance testing, we create Test Cases. This User Acceptance Testing creates Different test cases at different requirement levels. These number of test cases ensure the user the proper coverage of all the scenarios during the testing process. User acceptance testing is similar to the black box type of testing. But UAT requires more than two end-users to process it. The company tends to undergo the various types of testing processes before getting into user acceptance testing. the application goes through unit testing, integration testing, system-level testing. However, most of the bugs have already been fixed before user acceptance testing. So, the main focus of this user acceptance testing is on the functionality and usability of the application rather than the technical aspects Companies who tend to have a software, approach a software developing company. they give the requirement significantly describing how they want their software to be designed. However by testing the application the end-user gains some kind of confidence in accepting the application. The specific focus of this UAT testing helps the end-user check if all the requirements have been fulfilled by the developer.TYPES OF USER ACCEPTANCE TESTING :
- Alpha & Beta Testing
- Contract Acceptance Testing
- Regulation Acceptance Testing
- Operational Acceptance Testing
- Black Box Testing
ALPHA AND BETA TESTING :
Alpha testing :
It is to perform at the developing organization’s site by an independent test team. Alpha testing mainly focuses on finding bugs before releasing the product to the real users or the public.Beta testing:
Beta testing mainly focuses on Pre-release test performed by the potential or existing customers or operators at their own locations. This type of testing usually done after alpha testing. Focus on finding customer’s feedback/suggestions.Contract Acceptance Testing:
The objective of the CAT is to test if the developed software meets the pre-decided and mutually agreed specifications in the contract. The project team works on defining the relevant criteria and at the same time agrees to work on a pre-defined contract.Regulation acceptance testing :
This type of testing is necessary to test the developed product against certain rules and legal regulations. Compliance acceptance testing is the other term for regulation acceptance testing .Operational acceptance testing :
Operational acceptance testing (OAT) is a common type non-functional testing. The main usage of this type of testing is in maintaining and developing the projects. OAT may sometime include activities like checking the backup or the restore facilitiesBlack box testing:
One of the types of user acceptance testing is black-box testing. One of the common testing which is applicable to almost all the levels of testing like unit testing, integration testing and system testing and acceptance testing as well. Black box testing basically examines the functionality of an application without looking into its internal structures or workings.Tools Used for User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
- Usersnap
- Java
- Watir, and more