What is Verification?
Verification in science and engineering is the process of evaluating whether a product, system, or component meets the conditions imposed at the start of a development phase. It answers the question: 'Are we building the product right?' Essentially, it's about checking compliance with specifications and standards, ensuring that what has been built matches the design and requirements.
Key Principles and Distinction from Validation
The core principle of verification is to ensure correctness and consistency between a product and its foundational requirements. It is often contrasted with validation, which asks 'Are we building the right product?' While verification confirms that the product's internal logic and structure align with the design specifications, validation assesses if the product fulfills its intended purpose and meets user needs in its operational environment.
Practical Examples of Verification
In software engineering, verification involves code reviews, unit testing, integration testing, and static analysis to ensure the software adheres to its design documents and coding standards. In experimental science, verifying an apparatus might involve calibrating sensors, checking instrument accuracy against known standards, or ensuring that a simulation's algorithm correctly implements theoretical models before running experiments or making predictions.
Importance and Applications
The importance of verification lies in its ability to identify and correct errors early in the development lifecycle, reducing costs and risks. By systematically checking each stage of design and implementation against specifications, verification enhances the reliability, robustness, and safety of systems. It is fundamental across various fields, from developing critical aerospace components and medical devices to validating scientific theories through rigorous empirical checks.