What a good quality gate looks like

A quality gate is a short, planned check before work moves to the next stage. It works only if everyone knows the criteria in advance.

Good gates check a few things that matter: tests passed against agreed requirements, open defects within agreed limits, and sign-off from the people who will run the system.

Record the decision and the evidence every time. That record is what auditors and appraisers will ask for, and it helps the next team learn.