Definition
Formal testing conducted to enable a user or other authorised entity to determine whether to accept a system or component. Often known simply as acceptance testing or customer acceptance testing, CAT. Acceptance tests are based upon business requirements.
[Source: BCS+]
Comment
Acceptance testing allows the user, customer or other authorised entity to confirm that the system or component is ‘fit for purpose’. Where acceptance criteria are created in advance, acceptance testing confirms that the system meets these. This is often referred to simply as UAT instead of User Acceptance Test.
On many programmes and large projects, testing will take up a significant portion of the budget. But it will receive less management attention than an activity of this size warrants.