Verification and validation (also abbreviated as V&V) are independent procedures that are used together for checking that a product, service, or system meets requirements and specifications and that it fulfills its intended purpose.[1] These are critical components of a quality management system such as ISO 9000. The words "verification" and "validation" are sometimes preceded with "independent", indicating that the verification and validation is to be performed by a disinterested third party. "Independent verification and validation" can be abbreviated as "IV&V".
In reality, as quality management terms, the definitions of verification and validation can be inconsistent. Sometimes they are even used interchangeably.[2][3][4]
However, the PMBOK guide, a standard adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), defines them as follows in its 4th edition:[5]
Similarly, for a Medical device, the FDA (21 CFR) defines Validation and Verification as procedures that ensures that the device fulfil their intended purpose.
ISO 9001:2015 considers
There are some authors who apparently regard these two terms as synonymous, others who seem to be only vaguely aware of the differences. Some even appear to believe that V&V is one word! ... There is such a fundamental difference between these models that the term validation has many years ago been selected to be different from the term verification. Nevertheless, it is debatable whether the distinction between validation and verification should be continued.
Two terms that sometimes confuse software test engineers are "validation" and "verification". ... Obviously the two IEEE definitions are so close to each other it's hard to determine the difference.
In interviews most of the interviewers are asking questions on "What is Difference between Verification and Validation?" Lots of people use verification and validation interchangeably but both have different meanings.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires |journal=
(help)CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of January 2024 (link)