Agile Tester Extension
Hardening Sprint – ISTQB Definition
Last Updated: July 12, 2026 · SoftwareTestPilot QA Team
Official ISTQB Definition
An additional sprint at the end of a release cycle used to stabilize the product, fix defects and complete non-functional testing.
In simple words
A stabilization sprint dedicated to bug fixes and non-functional testing before release.
Exam tip
Hardening sprints are an anti-pattern in mature agile — quality should be built in every sprint.
Related terms
- Release TestingA last-mile pass on the release candidate — smoke, regression, non-functional spot checks.
- Technical DebtShortcuts in code that cost you extra time later to fix or work around.
- Definition of DoneAn Agile team’s shared checklist for ‘this work is really done, including tests, docs and deployment’.
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