What is a key characteristic of a Developmental Test?

A key characteristic of a Developmental Test is that it focuses on new items and demonstrates proof of concept. Developmental testing is typically conducted during the early stages of a system's lifecycle, where the primary goal is to assess whether the design or concept of a system meets the intended requirements and is feasible for further development. This type of testing is crucial as it helps identify any potential issues in the initial design and can lead to modifications that enhance the system's performance before it proceeds to the next phases, such as production or operational deployment.

The essence of Developmental Testing is not necessarily about user satisfaction or compliance with regulatory standards, which are typically evaluated in later phases of testing or in different types of tests, such as operational testing or compliance testing. Additionally, while Developmental Testing may provide insight into the system's capabilities, it is not primarily aimed at assessing the final operational system; that function is reserved for operational tests that occur after the system has been fully developed and deployed.