Software Development Updates

Software testing parameters and methods are developed to ensure that the quality of the software is not compromised. Verification and validation are two methods in software testing that help define the overall success of the software development process. Verification checks whether the developed software meets the predefined specifications, while validation ensures that the software fulfills the client’s actual expectations. 

As a software testing company, we’ll explore this topic further and list out the important fundamentals between verification and validation.

1. What is Verification Testing?

The verification testing process ensures that the product being developed meets the specified requirements at any stage of development. The verification process relies on the software requirements specification (SRS), design documents, ER diagrams, and database table designs to ensure compliance with software development standards and protocols. The code logic is evaluated against the specifications in these documents.

This ongoing testing process includes code reviews, walkthroughs, inspections, specification analysis, and design evaluations. Software development must follow the defined procedures and practices throughout the development cycle to ensure quality and reliability.

1.1 When to Use Verification Testing?

We read above that verification testing is an ongoing process that is conducted at every phase of the software development life cycle. Let us now look at some of the scenarios to perform verification testing:

• Before Code Integration: After developing a specific module, perform verification testing to ensure its compliance with the design specifications before integration.
• During Design Reviews: Check if the design meets the design document specifications.
• Before User Acceptance Testing: Ensure that the system meets the product requirements and is free from security flaws before presenting it to users for feedback.
• After Software Updates: Verification testing is done to ensure that the software update meets the specified requirements and does not delay the expected functionality.
• During System Integration: After integrating the modules, verification testing is done to ensure that the integrated system meets the predefined requirements.

1.2 Advantages of Verification Testing

• Verification testing at regular intervals decreases the probability of coming across errors in the later stages of development.
• The possibility of product failure is highly reduced.
• It serves as a quality control check at each phase of the development process.
• Keeps the development process aligned with the project goals and user requirements.
• Timely feedback enhances development efficiency, contributing to the overall product quality.
• Quality assurance (QA) professionals can identify emerging difficulties; hence, they plan accordingly to avoid wasting time and resources.
• The developers and stakeholders explore methods to improve product quality through additions and omissions.
• By checking the quality of every component and module in the system, we can reduce rework in the future.

1.3 How is Verification Testing Performed?

There are several ways to conduct software verification. They can be either manual or automated. We’ll discuss some of the most commonly used verification testing methods:

• Inspections and Reviews: Stakeholders assess various documents, such as software requirements specifications (SRS), design documents, and code, to ensure that the details are clear, unambiguous, complete, and compliant with relevant standards and regulations.
• Walkthrough: The software modules are reviewed sequentially, and developers explain the logic behind each detail to identify errors and areas for improvement. The reviewers can question the logic of any specific implementation, which needs to be answered.
• Prototyping: Prototypes are built before the beginning of the development process to verify the design and functionalities of the software according to the expectations.
• Desk-Checking: Developers review the source code, algorithm, and design using pen and paper to analyze how the code functions without executing it.

2. What is Validation in Software Testing?

Validation testing ensures that the end product meets the user’s expectations. It has nothing to do with the development process and technical details. It checks the product from the perspective of the users and stakeholders. Hence, software validation is conducted after the completion of software development to assess its performance, functionality, and user interaction. Quality assurance tests like integration testing, user acceptance testing, system testing, and unit testing are involved. You can see that the tests mentioned are both functional and non-functional tests.

Validation testing is a dynamic testing approach where the testing team executes the code by providing specific inputs and verifying the output with the expected result.

2.1 When to Use Validation Testing?

The following are the prevalent cases where the validation process must be conducted:

• Before Product Launch: Validation testing ensures the product meets user needs before deployment.
• During User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Validation testing checks the functionalities with real-time inputs.
• During Beta Testing: Validation testing collects insights on user satisfaction with the product.
• After Major Changes or Enhancements: Validation confirms that your system behaves as it did before the changes.
• Post-Implementation Review: Validation testing identifies that the app features are working as expected after release.

2.2 Advantages of Validation Testing

• The undetected errors and bugs of verification testing can be identified during validation testing.
• Incorrect or missed requirement specifications can be figured out during validation testing, preventing the release of partially completed software.
• The performance of the software under various conditions, such as low internet connectivity, can be assessed through software validation.
• It allows you to check your built product across different browsers, devices, and operating systems to increase user convenience and software acceptability.
• You have the opportunity to address issues in the final phase of the software development process to implement quality control actions.

2.3 How is Validation Testing Performed?

Black-box testing and white box testing are two methodologies used for validation testing. White box testing involves examining the internal structure, whereas black box testing focuses on the application’s external behavior.

The basic steps or phases in validation testing remain the same, which are:

• Design Qualification: Perform a thorough requirement analysis and prepare a validation testing plan accordingly.
• Installation Qualification: Once you have the validation test plan, proceed with the installation of the software.
• Operational Qualification: Conduct all the functional and non-functional testing, like sanity testing, regression testing, performance testing, etc.
• Performance Qualification: Evaluate the software’s behavior in a real-world environment and compare the actual performance and expected outcomes.

Here is what a Reddit user says about Validation testing.

3. Difference Between Verification and Validation Testing

Let us now understand the prominent factors distinguishing validation testing from verification testing:

3.1 Purpose

Verification testing examines the software against its requirements and design specifications. It focuses on technical details, including alignment with team goals and development standards.

Validation testing evaluates the system’s functionalities to meet user requirements and expectations.

3.2 Timelines

Verification starts in the early phase of software development to validate the design and features alongside development tasks. It helps identify and resolve errors as they occur rather than fixing them at the end. Some bugs may become difficult or impossible to fix later, making it crucial to address them promptly.

Validation occurs after product development to assess the working of the system’s functionality as a whole.

3.3 Error Handling

Verification testing starts bug fixing or error handling from the beginning of the development cycle, decreasing the chances of future rework.

The validation process, on the other hand, focuses on identifying gaps in functionality and user expectations after development is complete.

3.4 Example of Verification and Validation Testing

In the case of the user login page of a particular website, verification testing ensures that user authentication follows standard practices like password length and character.

Validation testing, such as user acceptance testing, will check whether the end users can successfully log in to the page after entering their username and password.

3.5 Feedback Loop

Verification testing takes feedback from only the development team members to address coding, design, and documentation issues. 

Validation testing requires feedback from both the development team and end users to assess the software’s performance in real-time and increase its user-friendliness.

4. Summary of Verification vs Validation

Parameters	Verification Testing	Validation Testing
Purpose	Verification aims to ensure that the software meets the specified requirements.	Software satisfies end users’ needs and expectations.
Performed By	Developers, QA engineers	Testers, end-users, stakeholders.
Focus	Process-oriented	Product-oriented
Execution stage	Performed throughout the software development process.	Performed after the product development.
Outcome	Identifies design flaws, requirement gaps, and deviations from standards early.	Functional and usability issues.
Testing Type	Static	Dynamic
Stability	Verification is from the user’s perspective.	Validation is fact-based and, hence, stable.
Methods	Walkthroughs, inspections, prototyping, and desk-checking.	Black box and white box testing.

5. Final Thoughts

Verification and validation in software testing ensure comprehensive testing. One helps in static analysis, whereas the other constitutes a dynamic process. Software must function correctly to remain useful in the long run. The final product must serve its intended purpose by fulfilling technical and business requirements as well as user expectations. The software development team must prepare a thoroughly planned verification and validation testing strategy to identify all possible faults and errors and plan the resolution activity. Investing extra time and effort in verification and validation testing will help filter out the potential bugs early and give a pleasant user experience, gaining positive reviews and a market reputation.