Validation and Verification
Validation is the process of determining whether a design meets the needs
of the user, whereas verification is the process of determining
whether a design meets a set of requirements, specifications, and regulations.
If the requirements, specifications, and regulations
are given in a formal language, then it may be possible to
automate verification, resulting in a process known as
formal verification. Verification may form part of
a validation process, but in general, validation
cannot be formalized because it relates a system design to intent.
Simulation may also be used for validation, but it is more
problematic for verification. To use simulation for verification,
it is necessary to ensure adequate coverage of operating
conditions, scenarios, and system inputs. For Monte-Carlo simulations,
"coverage" is defined statistically or probabilistically.
Testing can also be used for validation, but for the
same reasons, it too is problematic for verification.