User Acceptance Testing (UAT) in Agile methodologies is typically conducted towards the end of each iteration or sprint, prior to deployment to a production environment. It represents the final validation phase where stakeholders, including end-users, assess the software against pre-defined acceptance criteria. For example, if a sprint aimed to develop a new user registration form, during this testing phase, actual users would attempt to register, ensuring the form functions as expected and meets their needs.
The importance of this testing lies in its ability to ensure that the developed software aligns with real-world user expectations and business requirements. Successful completion signifies that the delivered increment provides tangible value and is ready for release. Historically, this type of verification was often a bottleneck at the end of lengthy development cycles; however, integrating it within each sprint allows for continuous feedback and course correction, preventing costly rework later on.
