A/B test

American  

[ey-bee test] / ˈeɪˈbi ˌtɛst /

noun

1. Digital Technology. a comparison of two or more versions of a web page or app in simultaneous use to assess which is the optimized version for achieving a specified design goal or performance metric.

2. an experiment that compares two or more versions of a product or strategy to determine empirically which version is superior.

   The A/B test showed a more positive customer response to email marketing with short subject lines.

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verb (used with object)

1. to subject (a website, app, product, or strategy) to a comparison of two or more versions in simultaneous use to assess which is the optimized version for achieving a specified design goal or performance metric.

Etymology

Origin of A/B test

First recorded in 1980–85, from the use of A ³ ( def. ) and B ³ ( def. ) to indicate the first and second elements in a series

Example Sentences

In a way, he’s set up a nice A/B test in the field of persuasion science—an experimental trial, if you will, to compare against the Shor-influenced control group in which his party’s senior figures usually place themselves.

From Slate

Fast-food restaurants A/B test hamburgers, for example showing some eaters a version of a digital menu that puts Big Mac combo meals smack in the middle of the screen and others a version that promotes Quarter Pounders without the soda and fries.

From Washington Post

That explains why a 2012 Facebook A/B test unveiled in 2014 inspired ire similar to today’s — but greater: The platform had served some users more positive posts and some more negative posts to ascertain whether the change altered their moods — which, spoiler alert, it did.

From Washington Post

My guess is that Google is running an A / B test with this feature to see how people react.

From The Verge

The company will take a ‘growth hacking’ approach to marketing, optimizing with a/b test methodologies, to accelerate the number of artist users and the volume and quality of content.”

From Los Angeles Times