It's likened to a benchmark
Acceptance criteria are the specific requirements or conditions that a product must meet in order to be considered complete and ready for release. They are used to define the boundaries of a product and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of the stakeholders.
Acceptance criteria are typically defined during the product planning phase and are used to guide the development of the product. They are usually written in the form of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
For example, if the product is a software application, the acceptance criteria might include requirements such as "The application must load in less than 3 seconds on a smartphone," or "The application must be able to handle 100 concurrent users without crashing."
In simpler terms
If the product is a puzzle game, the acceptance criteria might include things like "The puzzle must have all the pieces in the box," or "The puzzle must fit together properly when completed." These criteria help make sure that the puzzle is made the way it is supposed to be and is fun to solve.
Acceptance criteria help ensure that the product meets the needs of the stakeholders and is of high quality. They are an important tool for guiding the development process and ensuring that the final product meets the desired specifications.