What does A/B testing mean in software engineering?

A/B testing is a method of comparing two versions of a feature or interface by showing them to different groups of users simultaneously and measuring which version performs better based on specific metrics like conversion rates, click-through rates, or user retention. It is a data-driven approach to making product decisions.

How do you use A/B testing in a sentence at work?

You can say 'We are A/B testing the new dashboard' (as a noun phrase), or 'We will A/B test this feature with 10% of users' (as a verb). You might also say 'The A/B test results showed version B was more effective.'

Is A/B testing formal or informal?

A/B testing is neutral and professional vocabulary used in both formal meetings and casual team discussions. It is standard terminology in tech companies and is appropriate in interviews, documentation, and everyday conversations with colleagues.

What is the difference between A/B testing and regular testing?

Regular testing (like QA testing) checks whether code works correctly and is free of bugs. A/B testing specifically compares two versions of a feature to measure which one performs better according to user behavior or business metrics. They serve different purposes.

Why is A/B testing important in product development?

A/B testing removes guesswork from product decisions. Instead of debating which design or feature is better, teams can collect real data from actual users and make decisions based on evidence. This leads to better user experiences and stronger business outcomes.

A/B testing meaning in tech — Speak Tech English

Commonness	4/5
Versatility	4/5
Formality	CasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticDirect
Region	US and UK

Say it like this

✓We are A/B testing the new onboarding flow.

✓Let us run an A/B test before we ship this.

✓The A/B test showed that version B had higher engagement.

Real examples

in a standup

"We started A/B testing the new dashboard layout yesterday with 10% of users."

in a code review

"The feature flag implementation allows us to A/B test this change safely in production."

in a team meeting

"Our A/B test results show that the simplified form increases signup rates by 15%."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse A/B testing (comparing two versions) with general testing (checking if code works). A/B testing is specifically about comparing two variants to measure which performs better.

✕We need to A/B testing this button.

✓We need to A/B test this button.— A/B testing is a noun; when used as a verb, it becomes the infinitive 'A/B test', not 'A/B testing'.

✕A/B testing is when we test the code for bugs.

✓A/B testing is when we compare two versions of a feature to see which performs better.— A/B testing is not about finding bugs; it is about measuring performance differences between variants.

✕We A/B tested only one user to save time.

✓We A/B tested with a statistically significant sample size to ensure reliable results.— A/B testing requires enough users to produce valid statistical results; testing with one user is meaningless.

Other forms

noun

A/B testing

"A/B testing helps us make data-driven decisions about features."

verb

A/B test

"We decided to A/B test the new payment method with 20% of our users."

verb (past tense)

A/B tested

"We A/B tested three different email subject lines last month."

Often used with

run an A/B testCommon phrase meaning to conduct or execute an A/B test

A/B test resultsThe data and findings from an A/B test experiment

A/B test variantOne of the two versions being compared in an A/B test

A/B testing frameworkThe technical tools and infrastructure used to conduct A/B tests

statistically significant A/B testAn A/B test with enough data to produce reliable, valid results

Similar words

split testingAnother name for A/B testing; more common in marketing contexts

multivariate testingTesting multiple variables at once, whereas A/B testing compares exactly two versions

controlled experimentA broader term for any experiment with control and test groups; A/B testing is a type of controlled experiment

Opposites

rolloutarbitrary decision

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your PM wants to test two versions of the homepage. What do you say?

Let us A/B test both versions to see which one performs better.We need to A/B testing the homepage now.We should test the homepage with A/B testing method.Both A and B are correct.

Complete the sentence

2. Before we launch the new feature, we should _______ it with 5% of users to measure impact.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses A/B testing incorrectly?

Our A/B test showed that the red button had a higher click-through rate.We ran an A/B test to compare two different pricing strategies.The engineer is A/B testing the code to make sure it does not have bugs.We decided to A/B test the checkout process with half of our traffic.

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in natural tech English using A/B testing: 'We want to see which design the users prefer more before we choose one.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "a/b testing" in a standup this week?

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