Acceptance Criteria

Acceptance Criteria are a set of predefined conditions or requirements that must be met for a user story, feature, or product to be considered complete and acceptable by stakeholders, including end users and business owners. These criteria define the scope of the work, set expectations, and ensure that the software meets business and functional needs.

Key components of acceptance criteria include:

• Clear and Measurable Conditions: Acceptance criteria must be specific, measurable, and easy to understand, detailing exactly what the software needs to do for the user story to be considered finished.
• Business Requirements: The criteria reflect the business goals and user needs, ensuring that the software aligns with the intended objectives and provides value to the business.
• Functional and Non-Functional Requirements: Acceptance criteria can include both functional aspects (e.g., “The system must allow users to log in with a username and password”) and non-functional aspects (e.g., “The login process must take no more than 2 seconds”).
• Testable: Each criterion should be testable, meaning it can be verified through testing (manual or automated) to confirm that the software meets the requirements.
• Scope and Boundaries: Acceptance criteria help define the boundaries of the feature or user story, ensuring that the work is focused and that developers understand the limitations and expected outcomes.
• Approval by Stakeholders: The criteria are typically reviewed and approved by business stakeholders, product owners, or end users, ensuring alignment between development and business expectations.

Example of acceptance criteria for a login feature:

• "The user can log in using valid credentials (username and password)."
• "An error message is displayed when incorrect login details are entered."
• "The login page must load within 3 seconds."

Acceptance criteria help to ensure that development efforts are aligned with user expectations, reducing ambiguity, and facilitating clear communication between the development team and stakeholders.