What is verification and validation?
Verification activities confirm that the product is built to the stated (documented) specifications and validation confirms that the product actually meets the customer's needs.
Criteria | Verification | Validation |
Definition | The process of evaluating work-products (not the actual final product) of a development phase to determine whether they meet the specified requirements for that phase. | The process of evaluating software during or at the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies specified business requirements. |
Objective | To ensure that the product is being built according to the requirements and design specifications. In other words, to ensure that work products meet their specified requirements. | To ensure that the product actually meets the user’s needs and that the specifications were correct in the first place. In other words, to demonstrate that the product fulfills its intended use when placed in its intended environment. |
Question | Are we building the product right? | Are we building the right product? |
Evaluation Items | Plans, Requirement Specs, Design Specs, Code, Test Cases | The actual product/software. |
Activities | • Reviews
• Walkthroughs
• Inspections
• Testing | • Testing |
Static testing | Dynamic testing (functional testing, UAT, performance, security) |
Example:
- You build the car, the verification process covers that you use the proper materials to build it, the correct engine was put as like in specifications given. Validation covers, that the car goes, that the car has nice chairs that are comfortable.
- Verification - Log in form field is 16 pixels, validation is checking what will happen if I leave the form empty.
