Verification vs Validation

CNM Cyber suites

Verification vs Validation (hereinafter, the Lectio) is the lesson part of Manual Testing Essentials lesson that introduces its participants to manual testing concepts. This lesson belongs to the CNMCT Entrance section of the CNM Cyber Placement.

Content

The predecessor lectio is Product Work Tests.

Script

Some dictionaries treat two verbs, to verify and to validate as synonyms. Both likely include testing to ascertain the truth or authenticity of something. However, these verbs are not the same. In project management and systems engineering, verification and validation are separate processes.

Imagine that you parked your vehicle in a parking lot, while visiting some business. You know that the general public has to pay for parking, but that particular business covers parking fees for its customers. If the business validates your parking, your parking is free. The parking lot attendant may verify your receipt, but cannot validate. If your parking is not validated, you have to pay.

To verify a work product, one should make sure that the produced product matches its specifications and other requirements. To validate, one should make sure that product solves the problems it was supposed to solve.

When applied to a newly-built aircraft, verification is making sure that the aircraft is produced how it was designed. To validate aircraft's airworthiness, the aircraft must fly. The test flight would validate not only that the aircraft is built according to its specifications, but also that its specifications were right.

Simply put, verification answers the question whether the product is developed right, while validation answers the question whether the right product is developed.

For instance, verification of this very lectio that you are reading or listening right now would include finding its requirements and checking whether all of those requirements are met. However, only your understanding of the difference between verification and validation would validate it. If many learners fail to recognize the difference, the requirements must be revised and the lectio must be updated.

Customers, product owners, and/or end-users validate most, but not all of developed products. The exclusions are those products that are regulated by the law. For instance, the customer may be ready to purchase some vaccine, but if this vaccine hasn't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it cannot be sold in the United States. An essential part of FDA's approval process is validation of its useful and harmful effects.

Key terms

Acceptance test

Closing

The successor lectio is What Test Case Is.