"User acceptance testing" (UAT) refers to the process where actual users evaluate a system or application before it goes live. This phase is crucial for ensuring that the software meets their requirements and expectations. During UAT, users perform real-world scenarios to identify any issues or suggest improvements. The significance of UAT lies in its ability to validate functionality, usability, and compatibility from a user perspective, thereby minimizing the risk of post-deployment failures and ensuring a smoother transition to live operations.