Validation is an important step after developing the software product. Validating the product tells us whether the application has met all its requirement specification and works in a ways it was intended to.
Consider the following points to understand the importance of validation in software testing
Validation is at the end of the software development lifecycle and is only done after the verifications are completed
It tells whether the application or product has been built right or not
It also tells whether the correct data is being accessed, i.e. data required to meet the specifications
Validation of the application is a high level activity
It is performed after the application or product is completely built and is ensured that the product works correctly when subjected to the user end environments
Validation is also the proof of correctness by the development team that the product they have built meets all the user needs and requirements
The Capability Maturity Model (CMM) defines validation as “the process of evaluating software during or at the end of the development process to determine whether it satisfies specified requirements”.
Here, the application or product built can pass the process of verification, as it is mostly done on paper and there is no requirement of running any functions of the application. However, when the same application is brought for validation, the correctness of the application is not certain and it does not depend upon the reports of verification.
Some of the main advantages of validation in software testing are given below
If some defects are missed during the process of verification, they are detected during validation and are reported as failures
If there had been a misunderstanding regarding the specifications during the process of verification, then the difference between the actual result and expected result can be identified during the process of validation
Validation is done during testing, for instance feature testing, integration testing, system testing, load testing, compatibility testing, stress testing, etc.
Validation provides the proof of correctness for the application, which helps in meeting end user requirements
Validation is basically done by the testers responsible for testing the product or application. The process is carried out during testing and if there is a deviation observed between actual and expected results, then a bug or incident is reported.
Not all incidents are considered as bugs, but all bugs are considered as incidents. There can be other type of reporting too, like “Questions”, where the tester is certain about what the defect actually is.
Therefore, in conclusion, validation is a high level activity performed by testers. It helps in understanding the product and its functionality better. Validation also increases user trust and helps in making the product more user-friendly.