What is the difference between verification and validation in software testing?

Validation and verification are two essential processes in quality assurance and quality management. They are used to ensure that a product or system meets the required standards and specifications. While they are related, they have distinct purposes and are often used at different stages of the development or production process.

Let’s explore validation and verification in QA:

Verification:

• Verification is the process of evaluating whether a product, system, or component meets specified requirements and adheres to established standards.
• It involves checking the work products, such as documents, design specifications, and code, to ensure they meet the intended specifications and standards.
• Verification activities often include reviews, inspections, walkthroughs, and static analysis to identify defects and inconsistencies in the early stages of development.
• The goal of verification is to ensure that the product is being built correctly according to the given requirements.

Validation:

• Validation, on the other hand, is the process of evaluating a product, system, or component during or at the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies its intended use and meets the needs of the customer or end-users.
• It involves dynamic testing and may include activities such as functional testing, system testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), and performance testing.
• Validation ensures that the product does what it is intended to do and is fit for its intended purpose.
• It focuses on evaluating the product in a real or simulated environment to confirm that it meets user expectations.

Key Differences:

• Verification is concerned with checking whether the product conforms to the specified requirements and standards, while validation is concerned with confirming that the product meets the user’s needs and expectations.
• Verification activities are typically performed during the development process and involve reviews and inspections. Validation activities often occur towards the end of development and involve testing in real or simulated environments.
• Verification is more about “building the product correctly,” while validation is about “building the correct product.”

Both verification and validation are crucial for ensuring product quality and customer satisfaction.

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