Verification means checking if the product is being built correctly according to specifications and design. For example, reviewing code, doing walkthroughs, or running static analysis tools—all these ensure the product meets the specified requirements step-by-step.
Validation, on the other hand, is about making sure the right product is built to satisfy user needs. For instance, running actual user tests, system testing, or beta testing where you check if the product functions well in real scenarios.
So practically, when you review and inspect documentation or code—that’s verification. When you test the product in a live environment or with real users—that’s validation.
Hey Everyone!
With a few years of QA and dev experience under my belt, here’s how I usually explain it — the practical definition for verification is ensuring we’re building the product right. It’s an internal check — we review requirements, run static analysis, do code walkthroughs — to catch issues early before they snowball. Validation, on the flip side, is when we step into the user’s shoes to ask: ‘Did we build what they actually needed?’ Think usability tests, real-world trials — that kind of stuff.
I totally agree, @mark-mazay. I’ve been on both QA and product teams, and I’d add this: if we fine-tune the definition for verification, it’s like doing quality control against a blueprint — ticking off whether what we’ve built aligns with the design and tech specs. Validation, however, is much more outcome-focused. It’s where the rubber meets the road — we ask users, ‘Does this solve your problem?’ So, in short: verification ensures correctness, validation ensures relevance.
Spot on, both of you. From my side , working on multiple product releases here’s how I usually extend that understanding: the definition for verification is all about matching implementation to intention. It’s where we make sure every requirement is reflected in the build. But validation? That’s the emotional gut-check. Are users happy? Does it fit into their workflow seamlessly? So yes — verification is your internal checklist, validation is your external reality check.