---
title: "The content test strategy"
slug: "the-content-test-strategy"
abstract: "Sitecore uses the Subgroup Round Robin Sticky test strategy by default, but there are 3 other strategies available."
---
# The content test strategy

The content test strategy determines how website traffic is distributed among test variants during content testing. The default test strategy in Sitecore is the Subgroup Round Robin Sticky test strategy.

> [!note]
> We recommend that you use this strategy in all situations because it is the most effective strategy. However, if you want, an administrator can [change the default test strategy , or change the test strategy for a single test](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/developers/100/sitecore-experience-manager/change-the-content-test-strategy.html).

This topic describes the strategies in order of complexity:

- [The Random test strategy](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/the-content-test-strategy.html#UUID-ad2f454c-e33b-654a-0787-97b12430fcbb_section-5c110a4e6e9b1-idm45939134741504 "The Random test strategy")
- [The Sticky test strategy](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/the-content-test-strategy.html#UUID-ad2f454c-e33b-654a-0787-97b12430fcbb_section-5c110a951728d-idm45048190896672 "The Sticky test strategy")
- [The Round Robin Sticky test strategy](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/the-content-test-strategy.html#UUID-ad2f454c-e33b-654a-0787-97b12430fcbb_section-5c110abb92710-idm45048190826432 "The Round Robin Sticky test strategy")
- [The default test strategy: Subgroup Round Robin Sticky](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/the-content-test-strategy.html#UUID-ad2f454c-e33b-654a-0787-97b12430fcbb_section-5c110c00e3318-idm45485383639376 "The default test strategy: Subgroup Round Robin Sticky")

<details>
<summary><h2>The Random test strategy</h2></summary>

When you apply the Random test strategy, Sitecore presents a randomly selected experience for every visit. This means a visitor might receive different experiences if they visit the site multiple times.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>The Sticky test strategy</h2></summary>

When you apply the Sticky test strategy, Sitecore presents a randomly selected experience the first time a visitor visits, but then the visitor receives the same experience on subsequent visits.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>The Round Robin Sticky test strategy</h2></summary>

When you apply the Round Robin Sticky test strategy, Sitecore presents the experiences alternately to ensure that an equal number of visitors sees each variant. For example, the following table shows how Sitecore presents three different experiences to a series of visitors:

| Visitor 1 | Experience A |
| --- | --- |
| Visitor 2 | Experience B |
| Visitor 3 | Experience C |
| Visitor 4 | Experience A |
| Visitor 5 | Experience B |
| Visitor 6 | Experience C |
| Visitor 7 | Experience A |

If a visitor returns to the site, they are presented with the same experience each time. 

This strategy does not take personalization rules into account. For this reason, the Subgroup Round Robin Sticky test strategy is preferable.

</details>

<details>
<summary><h2>The default test strategy: Subgroup Round Robin Sticky</h2></summary>

The Subgroup Round Robin Sticky test strategy is similar to the Round Robin Sticky strategy: Sitecore presents the experiences alternately, to ensure that an equal number of visitors sees each variant. However, with this strategy, personalization rules are tested effectively because Sitecore distributes experiences evenly within subgroups.

The [Personalization tests topic](https://doc.sitecore.com/xp/en/users/100/sitecore-experience-platform/personalization-tests.html "Personalization tests") describes in detail how tests using the default test strategy work.

</details>