A/B Testing
A/B testing is comparing two versions of a page or element with live traffic split between them to see which performs better.
What A/B testing is
An A/B test shows version A to half your traffic and version B to the other half, at random, and measures which one performs better on a chosen metric.
The winner rolls out. Opinion gets replaced by evidence, one change at a time.
Why A/B testing matters
Intuition about design and copy is wrong often enough to be expensive. Testing turns changes into measured decisions instead of bets.
The gains also compound. Each winning variant becomes the new baseline the next test has to beat.
What ecommerce stores test
- PDP layout, images, and review placement
- Headlines, product copy, and offers
- Free-shipping thresholds and urgency elements
- Checkout steps and form length
Frequently asked questions
How long should an A/B test run?
Until it has enough conversions for a confident read, and across full weekly cycles so weekends are represented. Calling tests early is the most common way to get wrong answers.
Can small stores A/B test?
Yes, but low traffic means slow tests. Small stores get further testing big swings on high-impact pages than micro-changes that need months to resolve.
Related terms
Conversion Rate · Checkout Optimization · Product Detail Page