Verification vs Validation Testing: Key Differences 

As a software product tester, you must understand the fundamental difference between verification vs validation testing. While these terms may sound the same, they have distinct meanings. They also play unique roles in the software development process.

Generally, verification testing helps ensure the software meets the specified requirements and standards. In contrast, validation testing ensures that the software meets the needs and expectations of the end users.

To help you understand each better, let’s delve deeper into the difference between verification and validation testing. I’ll also explain why they are critical to any software project’s quality and success.

Whether you are a manual tester, automation engineer, or C-level executive, this verification vs validation testing comparison will provide you with valuable insights into the world of software testing.

What Is Verification Testing?

Verification testing is a process used in software development to ensure two things. One is that a product or system meets its specified requirements. Another is that the product or system adheres to the design and development standards.

Overall, it confirms that the software or product being developed meets the intended purpose and works as intended.

The verification process is typically performed throughout the software development cycle. It involves various testing techniques and tools. These tests ensure that each component of the software functions correctly and meets the expected requirements.

What Is Validation Testing?

Validation testing involves various testing techniques and tools designed to simulate real-world scenarios. Then, you compare the results to the requirements and specifications. It will ensure that the software meets all necessary criteria.

Any defects or issues identified during validation testing are addressed. The software also gets retested until it meets all requirements.

Read here – Validation Testing

Purpose of Verification and Validation

So, the whole point of Verification & Validation is to ensure that the product meets all the customer’s requirements.

 Once we get the results, we can show that the product does what it’s supposed to do and satisfies the needs it was made for.

How are Verification and Validation Testing Performed?

The following are four commonly utilized methods for software quality assurance: 

1. Peer Reviews: This involves sharing the software product with individuals and requesting them to review it. The reviewers can provide their observations regarding the product’s quality and contribute towards identifying any issues. 

2. Assessments: A dedicated team inspects the software product and helps identify potential faults and critical areas that require attention. 

3. Walkthrough: This method involves demonstrating the software to individuals free to ask questions and express their doubts. This approach can help identify potential issues and provide valuable feedback. 

4. Desk–Checking: This is the process of reviewing a software’s source code. The development team typically desk-checks a program to ensure the algorithms and code function correctly.

Tips for Successful Verification and Validation

Here are some major tips you should consider:

1. Clearly define verification and validation objectives: Set specific goals for the verification and validation process to achieve the desired outcomes.

2. Use appropriate verification methods: Select suitable techniques such as inspections, testing, or simulations to assess the correctness and completeness of the system effectively.

3. Establish a thorough test plan: Develop a detailed plan that outlines the scope, schedule, resources, and criteria for evaluating the system’s performance.

4. Conduct rigorous testing: Execute thorough tests to identify defects, errors, or inconsistencies in the system’s functionality and ensure it meets all specified requirements.

5. Involve stakeholders throughout the process: Engage relevant stakeholders to gather feedback, address concerns, and validate that the system meets their expectations.

6. Document and track results: Maintain precise records of all verification and validation activities performed, including any issues identified and their resolutions, to ensure traceability and accountability.

Difference Between Verification vs Validation Testing

Now that you have enough information about both tests, let’s examine the fundamental difference between verification and validation testing.

Verification Testing	Validation Testing
Focuses on whether the software meets its specified requirements	Focuses on whether the software meets the needs of end-users
Typically conducted during the development process	Typically conducted after the development process
Involves testing at the component, module, and system levels	Involves testing the software as a whole
Involves testing with sample data	Involves testing with real-world data
Designed to catch defects early in the development process	Designed to catch defects before release to end-users
Examples include unit testing, integration testing, and system testing	Examples include user acceptance testing, alpha and beta testing, and compatibility testing
Helps to ensure that the software is built correctly	Helps to ensure that the correct software is built
Helps to increase confidence in the software	Helps to increase user satisfaction
Improves the quality of the software	Reduces the risk of product recalls or legal issues
Can be automated or manual	Often involves manual testing
Requires a good understanding of the software requirements and specifications	Requires a good understanding of end-user needs and expectations

A Good Understanding of Verification vs Validation in Testing

While both verification testing and validation testing are important parts of the software development process, they focus on different aspects of the software.

Verification testing ensures that the software is built correctly and meets its specified requirements. On the other hand, validation testing ensures that the software meets the needs of end-users and is fit for its intended purpose.

Conducting both verification and validation in software testing helps ensure your developed product is high quality and meets the requirements and expectations.

Verification vs Validation Testing and Automation

The integration of automation in both verification and validation testing offers numerous advantages. Automated tests can be executed consistently and repeatedly, reducing human error and accelerating the testing process.

It allows for the early identification of defects, leading to faster bug fixes and a more robust final product. Moreover, automation enables broader test coverage, as it becomes feasible to execute a large number of test cases in a short span of time.

Popular Test Automation Tools For Verification and Validation

Testsigma

Testsigma is a no-code test automation tool that lets you automate your tests in simple English, with no need to learn to code. The best part is that it lets you automate your tests for web, mobile, APIs and desktop applications from the same place and that too 5x faster. 

Testsigma is a complete cloud-based solution, thus you just need to create an account on Testsigma, and you can start automating your tests, executing them, generating reports for them and integrate them with you existing CI/CD pipelines.

Start automating your verification and validation tests with Testsigma

Selenium

Selenium is a widely-used open-source automation framework for web applications. It provides a suite of tools and libraries for browser automation, allowing testers to write scripts in various programming languages such as Java, Python, or C#.

Selenium can simulate user interactions, perform actions like clicking buttons or entering text, and verify expected outcomes. It is commonly used for functional testing and regression testing of web applications.

Appium
Appium is an open-source project and ecosystem of related software, designed to facilitate UI automation of many app platforms, including mobile (iOS, Android, Tizen), browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari), desktop (macOS, Windows), TV (Roku, tvOS, Android TV, Samsung), and more. 

FAQs About Verification Vs Validation in Testing

1. What is the V&V model in software testing?

The V&V (Verification and Validation) model is a software testing model that involves both verification and validation activities throughout the software development lifecycle. It helps:

• catch defects early in the development process,
• reduce the risk of product recalls or legal issues,
• and increase confidence in the software.

2. What is an example of verification and validation in software testing?

An example of verification testing is unit testing. It checks whether individual components of the software meet their specifications. An example of validation testing is user acceptance testing. It tests whether the software meets end-users’ needs.

3. What are the types of validation?

Types of validation include

• functional validation, which tests whether the software functions as intended;
• performance validation, which tests whether the software meets performance requirements;
• and security validation, which tests whether the software is secure and protected from unauthorized access.