Glossary / MVP
What is an MVP?
minimum viable product
An MVP (minimum viable product) is the smallest version of a product that real people can use, built to learn whether the idea solves a real problem before you invest more.
The point of an MVP is learning, not launching a smaller copy of your dream product. You pick the one job the product must do well, build only that, and put it in front of users.
"Minimum" means leaving out everything that does not test the core idea: extra settings, polish, edge cases. "Viable" means it still has to work and be good enough that people would use it again.
What you learn decides the next step: build more, change direction, or stop. AI app builders have made MVPs much faster to make, which means you can test more ideas for the same effort.
Examples
- A booking page for one service in one location before supporting many
- A shared spreadsheet-style tool before a full SaaS with billing
Questions
How long should an MVP take to build?
As short as it can while still testing the idea. With AI app builders, a simple MVP can take days rather than months.
Is an MVP the same as a prototype?
A prototype shows what something could look like and may not work. An MVP works and is used by real people.