A proof of concept (POC) is a demonstration that an idea, technology, or approach can work in practice before committing to full implementation. POCs test feasibility with minimal investment, identifying problems early when changes are less costly. Municipal technology projects may use POCs to evaluate whether proposed solutions work in local contexts before large-scale procurement. Vendors may offer POC opportunities to demonstrate capabilities. Successful POCs inform full implementation, while unsuccessful ones prevent wasted investment in unworkable approaches. POC thinking applies beyond technology to pilot programs, service delivery experiments, and policy innovations testing ideas before broader rollout.