# Variation Distribution Process

## Overview

This document explains the process by which a user is distributed to a group in an A/B Test.

## Flow Chart

![3370](/files/b9HEJQ9z7Zi1aAR0WUJf)

## Process Details

The A/B Test variation distribution process is as follows:

**1. Check whether the A/B Test exists.**

* If the A/B Test does not exist, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.

**2. Check whether the user is registered as a test device.**

* If the user is registered as a test device, the configured test group is assigned.

**3. Check whether a user identifier for distribution exists.**

* If there is no user identifier, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.

**4. Check whether the user is excluded due to a Mutually Exclusive Group.**

* If the A/B Test is included in a Mutually Exclusive Group, check whether the user is included in the Mutually Exclusive Group.
* If the user is not included in the Mutually Exclusive Group, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.

**5. Check whether the user is a target (targeting) of the A/B Test.**

* If the user is not a target of the A/B Test, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.

**6. Check whether the A/B Test status is Draft or Paused.**

* If the A/B Test status is Draft or Paused, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.

**7. Check whether the A/B Test has been completed.**

* If the A/B Test has been completed, the Winner Variation selected when the test was concluded is assigned.

**8. Check whether the user has been allocated traffic through bucketing.**

* If the user is not allocated, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.
* Refer to the [Variation Distribution Principle](/en/ab-test/group-distribution/ab-bucketing.md) document for the meaning of **bucketing**.

**9. Check whether the assigned test group has been dropped from the test.**

* If the user has been assigned to a dropped test group, the default group, Variation A, is assigned.
* If the group has not been dropped, the corresponding test group is assigned.


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