Minimum Viable Product
Definition
The term Minimum Viable Product (MVP) refers to a development technique in which a new product is introduced with the minimal set of features required to satisfy early customers and provide feedback for future product development. This approach is crucial in the User Experience (UX) field, as it allows teams to validate assumptions about user needs and market demands before investing significant resources into full-scale product development.
Implementing an MVP helps organizations to launch products faster and reduce the risk of building features or products that do not align with user needs. By focusing on core functionalities, product teams can test hypotheses and iterate quickly based on user feedback, thereby enhancing the overall user experience.
Moreover, an MVP serves as a communication tool between stakeholders, allowing them to visualize the product's potential and understand the value it offers. It embodies the principle of lean startup methodology, promoting efficiency and adaptability in product development.
Expanded Definition
The concept of MVP gained prominence through the work of Eric Ries, particularly in his book 'The Lean Startup'. It emphasizes a cycle of building, measuring, and learning. By releasing an MVP, startups can gauge how products are received by users, which features are most valuable, and how the product can evolve over time. This iterative process is essential in a fast-paced market where user expectations continuously shift.
Furthermore, the MVP approach aligns closely with Agile methodologies, where incremental development and user feedback play a vital role. By utilizing MVPs, organizations can not only validate their product ideas but also foster a culture of innovation and responsiveness within their teams.
Key Activities
Defining core features based on user needs.
Conducting user research to validate assumptions.
Developing a prototype or initial version of the product.
Gathering feedback from early adopters.
Iterating on product features based on user insights.
Benefits
Reduces time to market by prioritizing essential features.
Minimizes development costs and resource allocation.
Facilitates user feedback collection to guide product evolution.
Helps in identifying market fit early in the product lifecycle.
Encourages a culture of experimentation and learning within teams.
Example
For instance, a startup developing a ride-sharing application may launch an MVP that only includes the core functionality of booking rides and a basic payment system. By releasing this version, they can gather user feedback on the service's effectiveness and identify any critical features that users feel are missing, such as driver ratings or a map interface, before investing in a full-featured application.
Use Cases
Launching a new software application with essential features.
Testing a new service concept in a competitive market.
Gathering user insights for a hardware product prototype.
Validating a business idea before significant investment.
Iteratively developing features based on user feedback in SaaS products.
Challenges & Limitations
Defining what constitutes 'minimum' can be subjective and vary across teams.
Users may have high expectations, leading to dissatisfaction if the MVP is too basic.
Feedback may be limited and not fully representative of a broader audience.
Focusing too much on the MVP can lead to neglecting long-term product vision.
Tools & Methods
Lean Startup methodology.
User research and testing tools (e.g., UsabilityHub, UserTesting).
Prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch).
Agile development frameworks.
Analytics tools to track user interactions (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel).
How to Cite "Minimum Viable Product" - APA, MLA, and Chicago Citation Formats
UX Glossary. (2025, February 11, 2026). Minimum Viable Product. UX Glossary. https://www.uxglossary.com/glossary/minimum-viable-product
Note: Access date is automatically set to today. Update if needed when using the citation.