How do you define clear and testable acceptance criteria for a registration page?

1 What is a registration page?

A registration page is a web page that allows a user to create an account on a website or application by providing some personal information, such as name, email, password, and so on. A registration page usually has a form with input fields, validation rules, error messages, and a submit button. A registration page may also have some optional features, such as social media login, captcha, terms and conditions, and email verification.

2 Why are acceptance criteria important for a registration page?

Acceptance criteria are important for a registration page because they help to define the scope, quality, and functionality of the feature. Without clear and testable acceptance criteria, the developers, testers, and stakeholders may have different assumptions and expectations about how the registration page should work, look, and behave. This can lead to miscommunication, confusion, and rework. By defining acceptance criteria for a registration page, you can ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the feature meets the user's needs and expectations.

3 How to define clear and testable acceptance criteria for a registration page?

The Given-When-Then (GWT) format is one of the most common and effective methods for defining acceptance criteria. It is based on the Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) approach, which focuses on describing the expected behavior of the system from the user's perspective. The GWT format consists of three parts: Given, When, and Then. Given describes the preconditions or the initial state of the system before the user performs an action; When describes the action or event that the user performs on the system; and Then describes the expected outcome or result of the action or event. This format helps to write clear and testable acceptance criteria due to its simplicity, structure, and specificity. It also helps to avoid ambiguity, vagueness, and complexity. For example, when creating a registration page, one may use acceptance criteria such as: if a valid email address and password is entered and submitted, then a confirmation message should appear that their account has been created; if an email address already registered is entered and submitted, then an error message should appear that it is already in use; if an invalid email address or password is entered and submitted, then an error message should appear that it is invalid; if social media login button is clicked, then be redirected to social media platform's login page and be able to create an account using social media credentials.

4 How to test acceptance criteria for a registration page?

Once you have defined clear and testable acceptance criteria for a registration page, you need to test them to verify that they are met by the actual implementation of the feature. There are different ways to test acceptance criteria, but one of the most common and effective ones is to use automated testing tools. Automated testing tools can help you to execute test cases based on your acceptance criteria, check the expected results, and report any discrepancies or defects. Some of the popular automated testing tools for web applications are Selenium, Cucumber, and TestCafe.

5 How to document acceptance criteria for a registration page?

The final step in defining clear and testable acceptance criteria for a registration page is to document them in a way that is easy to access, review, and update. There are different tools and platforms for documenting acceptance criteria, but one of the most common and effective ones is to use a user story management tool. A user story management tool can help you to create user stories, add acceptance criteria, attach screenshots or mockups, assign tasks, track progress, and collaborate with your team. Some of the popular user story management tools are Jira, Trello, and Asana.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?