Verification Vs Validation

Last Updated : 12 Dec, 2025

Verification and Validation is the process of investigating whether a software system satisfies specifications and standards and fulfills the required purpose. Verification and Validation both play an important role in developing good software development. Verification helps in examining whether the product is built right according to requirements, while validation helps in examining whether the right product is built to meet user needs.

Verification-vs-validation — Differences between Verification and Validation

What is Verification?

Verification is the process of ensuring that the software work products (such as requirements, design, and code) conform to specified requirements and standards. It focuses on checking correctness and consistency without necessarily executing the software.

What is Validation?

Validation is the process of evaluating the software during or after development to ensure it fulfills its intended use and meets user and stakeholder needs. It typically involves executing the software and observing its behavior in real or simulated environments.

Differences between Verification and Validation

Here is the Differences between Verification and Validation

	Verification	Validation
Definition	Ensures work products conform to specified requirements	Ensures the final product meets user and stakeholder needs
Focus	Requirements, design, and implementation correctness	Functional behavior and intended use
Nature	Often analytical and review-based	Typically evaluation- and execution-based
Execution	May or may not involve executing software	Usually involves executing the software
Methods Used	Methods used in verification are reviews, walkthroughs, inspections and desk-checking.	Functional testing, system testing, acceptance testing
Purpose	It checks whether the software conforms to specifications or not.	It checks whether the software meets the requirements and expectations of a customer or not.
Bug	Helps detect defects early by checking conformance to requirements and standards.	Detects defects during execution, including functional, usability, and integration issues.
Goal	The goal of verification is application and software architecture and specification.	The goal of validation is an actual product.
Responsibility	Involves developers, reviewers, QA, and engineers	Involves testers, users, QA teams, and stakeholders.
Timing	Performed throughout the software development lifecycle.	Performed throughout the lifecycle when the system or components are executable.
Lifecycle	Applied continuously across all lifecycle phases.	Applied iteratively as the system evolves and becomes usable.
Error Focus	Verification is for prevention of errors.	Validation is for detection of errors.
Stability	Based on defined criteria, standards, and expert judgment.	Based on observed system behavior and acceptance criteria.

Real-World Example of Verification vs Validation

Verification Example: Imagine a team is developing a new mobile banking app. During the verification phase, they review the requirements and design documents. They check if all the specified features like fund transfer, account balance check, and transaction history are included and correctly detailed in the design. They also perform peer reviews and inspections to ensure the design aligns with the requirements. This step ensures that the app is being built according to the initial plan and specifications without actually running the app.
Validation Example: In the validation phase, the team starts testing the mobile banking app on actual devices. They check if users can log in, transfer money, and view their transaction history as intended. Testers perform usability tests to ensure the app is user-friendly and functional tests to ensure all features work correctly. They might also involve real users to provide feedback on the app's performance. This phase ensures that the app works as expected and meets user needs in real-world scenarios.

Advantages of Differentiating Verification and Validation

Differentiating between verification and validation in software testing offers several advantages:

Clear Communication: It ensures that team members understand which aspects of the software development process are focused on checking requirements (verification) and which are focused on ensuring functionality (validation).
Efficiency: By clearly defining verification as checking documents and designs without executing code, and validation as testing the actual software for functionality and usability, teams avoid redundant efforts and streamline their testing processes.
Minimized Errors: It reduces the chances of overlooking critical requirements or functionalities during testing, leading to a more thorough evaluation of the software's capabilities.
Cost Savings: Optimizing resource allocation and focusing efforts on the right testing activities based on whether they fall under verification or validation helps in managing costs effectively.
Client Satisfaction: Ensuring that software meets or exceeds client and user expectations by conducting both verification and validation processes rigorously improves overall software quality and user satisfaction.
Process Improvement: By distinguishing between verification and validation, organizations can refine their testing methodologies, identify areas for improvement, and enhance the overall Software development lifecycle (SDLC).

In essence, clear differentiation between verification and validation in Software testing contributes to a more structured, efficient, and successful software development process.