Understanding End-to-End and User Acceptance Tests

In this lesson, we will progress to the top of the test pyramid. We’ll review what end-to-end and user acceptance tests are and what they add to unit and integration testing.

End-to-end tests and user acceptance tests in the pyramid

At the top of the test pyramid lies two similar kinds of tests called end-to-end tests and user acceptance tests. Technically, they are the same kind of test. In each case, we start up the software fully configured to run in its most live-like test environment, or possibly in production. The idea is that the system is tested as a whole from one end to the other.

Note: One specific use of an end-to-end test is for user acceptance testing (UAT). Here, several key end-to-end test scenarios are run. If they all pass, the software is declared fit for purpose and accepted by the users.

This is often a contractual stage in commercial development, where the buyer of the software formally agrees that the development contract has been satisfied. It’s still end-to-end testing that is being used to determine that, with cherry-picked test cases.

Advantages and limitations

These tests have advantages and limitations, as summarized in the following table: