Verification and Validation Software Testing

The terms ‘Verification‘ and ‘Validation‘ are frequently used in the software testing world but the meaning of those terms are mostly vague and debatable. You will encounter (or have encountered) all kinds of usage and interpretations of those terms

Difference Between Verification And Validation Explain It With Example?

Verification and Validation example is also given just below to this table. 

Verification	Validation
1. Verification is a static practice of verifying documents, design, code and program.	1. Validation is a dynamic mechanism of validating and testing the actual product.
2. It does not involve executing the code.	2. It always involves executing the code.
3. It is human based checking ofdocuments and files.	3. It is computer based execution of program.
4. Verification uses methods like inspections, reviews, walkthroughs, and Desk-checking etc.	4. Validation uses methods like black box (functional)  testing, gray box testing, and white box (structural) testing etc.
5. Verification is to check whether the software conforms to specifications.	5. Validation is to check whether software meets the customer expectations and requirements.
6. It can catch errors that validation cannot catch. It is low level exercise.	6. It can catch errors that verification cannot catch. It is High LevelExercise.
7. Target is requirementsspecification, application and software architecture, high level, complete design, and database design etc.	7. Target is actual product-a unit, a module, a bent of integrated modules, and effective final product.
8. Verification is done by QA team to ensure that the software is as per the specifications in the SRS document.	8. Validation is carried out with the involvement of testing team.
9. It generally comes first-done before validation.	9. It generally follows afterverification.

Example of verification and validation are explained below:-

Suppose we have the specifications related to the project than by checking that specifications without executing to see whether the specifications are up to the mark or not is what we have done in verification.

Similarly Validation of the software is done to make sure that the software always meets the requirements of the customer by executing the specifications of the project and product. 

Note that the customer and end users are concerned in validation of the software. 

It is also crucial to differentiate between end users, and customers. Considering example, if you are developing a library monitoring system, the librarian is the client and the person who issue the books, collect fines etc. are comes under the category of the end users.

Techniques or Methods of Verification and Validation

Methods of Verification

1. Walkthrough

2. Inspection

3. Review

Methods of Validation

1. Testing

2. End Users

Conclusion:

1) Verification and Validation both are necessary and complementary.

2) Both of them provides its own sets of Error Filters.
3) Each of them has its own way of detect out the errors left in the software.

Lots of people use verification and validation interchangeably but both have different meanings. 

Verification process describes whether the outputs are according to inputs or not, and 

Validation  process describes whether the software is accepted by the user or not.