What is the purpose of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in application development?

The purpose of a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in application development is to deliver basic features quickly for feedback. An MVP focuses on creating a version of the product that includes just enough functionality to satisfy early adopters and to gather valuable insights about users' needs and preferences. By launching an MVP, developers can validate their ideas and iterate based on real user feedback, which allows for adjustments and improvements in future versions of the product.

This approach is particularly beneficial in reducing the risk of developing features that users do not want or need. Instead of investing significant time and resources into developing a fully-featured application upfront, the MVP strategy enables teams to test hypotheses, learn from users, and refine the product before full-scale development. This iterative process helps ensure that the final product is more aligned with user expectations and market demand.