Say it like this
- We need to pass acceptance testing before launch
- The client is running acceptance testing on the system
- Acceptance testing revealed some critical issues
Use it at work
Planning a release
- We'll start acceptance testing with the client on Monday.
- Acceptance testing should take about a week.
Giving a status update
- Acceptance testing found two bugs, both small.
- We passed acceptance testing, so we're ready to release.
With the business
- Could someone from sales join acceptance testing?
- Please test the main flows during acceptance testing and log anything odd.
Don't say this
Acceptance testing does not test code directly; it tests the entire system or product against requirements.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| acceptance testing | Checks the product meets business needs | Users, clients or product owners | Right before release |
| UAT | Acceptance testing done by real end users | End users | Last step before go-live |
| QA | Checks quality and finds bugs | QA engineers or testers | Throughout development |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. Before we release the software, the client team will conduct _______ to verify all requirements are met.
2. Your product is ready for final testing. How do you say it?
3. Which sentence uses acceptance testing incorrectly?
4. Rewrite this using acceptance testing in natural tech English: 'The final check to see if the software does what the client asked for happens at the end.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"We need to pass acceptance testing before launch"
We don't save your recording. The word check uses your browser's speech recognition.
More about acceptance testing
Real examples(3)
- in a standup
"The marketing team is doing acceptance testing this week to verify all the new features work as expected."
- in a sprint planning meeting
"We should schedule acceptance testing for the next iteration after development is finished."
- in an email to stakeholders
"Acceptance testing has been scheduled for Friday; please ensure your team is available to validate the requirements."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not confuse with unit testing or integration testing. Acceptance testing is about whether the entire system meets business requirements, not individual code components.
- ✕Acceptance testing is the same as unit testing.✓Acceptance testing validates the whole system against business requirements, while unit testing checks individual code components.
These are different types of testing at different levels of the software development lifecycle.
- ✕The developers will do the acceptance testing.✓The client or end users will do the acceptance testing.
Acceptance testing is typically performed by non-technical stakeholders or the client, not the development team.
Other forms(3)
- acceptance testing noun
"Acceptance testing is the final verification step before deployment."
- acceptance test noun
"Each acceptance test must validate a specific business requirement."
- perform acceptance testing verb phrase
"We will perform acceptance testing next week."
Often used with(5)
- pass acceptance testing · Used when a product successfully meets all acceptance criteria and requirements
- fail acceptance testing · Used when a product does not meet the required criteria and needs more work
- acceptance testing phase · Refers to the specific stage in the development lifecycle when acceptance testing occurs
- acceptance testing criteria · The specific requirements or conditions that must be met during acceptance testing
- user acceptance testing (UAT) · A common variant emphasizing that end users perform the testing
Similar words(3)
- user acceptance testing (UAT) · More specific term emphasizing the user's role; often used interchangeably
- system testing · Broader term that includes acceptance testing as one component
- final testing · General term for testing near the end of development, but less specific
Opposites(3)
- development
- coding
- initial testing
Questions(5)
- What is the difference between acceptance testing and unit testing?
- Unit testing checks individual code components for correctness, while acceptance testing evaluates the entire system to ensure it meets business requirements. Unit testing is done by developers during development; acceptance testing is done by clients or QA teams before release.
- Who performs acceptance testing?
- Acceptance testing is typically performed by end users, clients, business stakeholders, or dedicated QA teams. It is usually not done by the developers who wrote the code.
- When does acceptance testing happen in the development cycle?
- Acceptance testing happens near the end of the development cycle, after unit testing, integration testing, and system testing are complete. It is the final gate before a product is released to production.
- What happens if a product fails acceptance testing?
- If a product fails acceptance testing, it is sent back to the development team to fix the issues. The product cannot be released until it passes acceptance testing and meets all the agreed-upon requirements.
- Is acceptance testing the same as UAT?
- User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is a specific type of acceptance testing where end users directly test the system. All UAT is acceptance testing, but not all acceptance testing is UAT, since it can also be performed by other stakeholders.
