What does user acceptance testing (UAT) primarily involve?

User acceptance testing (UAT) is primarily focused on final validation by actual users before the software is officially released. This phase of testing is crucial because it ensures that the application meets the end-users' needs and requirements as specified. In UAT, real users interact with the software in a controlled environment to confirm that it functions as expected and that it aligns with their business processes and user requirements.

The involvement of actual users distinguishes UAT from other testing phases. Here, end-users assess the application's functionality, usability, and overall experience, providing valuable feedback that might not be captured during earlier testing phases. UAT serves as a significant checkpoint to identify any discrepancies between user expectations and the software's performance, making it an essential step in the software development lifecycle before final deployment.