Experiments, testing & rollout · Core
Control group
Also called: control
ELI5
The comparison group used to see what would happen without the change.
Used in conversation
“Keep the control group stable during the experiment.”
Definition
The group that does not receive the tested intervention or receives the current experience.
Here “Control group” means: The group that does not receive the tested intervention or receives the current experience.
Pitch context
You will see “Control group” in product strategy decks, roadmaps, experiments and architecture reviews when the discussion reaches experiments, testing & rollout.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret experiments, testing & rollout without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Connected terms
- ControlThe search label “Control” can route to both entries.
- Holdout groupThe search label “Control group” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 2
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Scrum Guides — The Scrum Guide — official current versionSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16