Verification and Validation

Abstract Software verification and validation (V&V) is a technical discipline of systems engineering. Software V&V is “a systems engineering process employing a rigorous methodology for evaluating the correctness and quality of software product through the software life cycle.” The purpose of V&V is to help the development organization build quality into the software during the software life cycle. The software V&V processes determine whether development products of a given activity (e.g., requirements definition, design, code) conform to the requirements of that activity, and whether the software satisfies the intended use and user needs. The determination includes assessment, analysis, evaluation, review, inspection, and testing of software products and processes. The software V&V is performed in parallel with the software development, not at the conclusion of the software development. This article gives an overview of V&V including techniques that can be applied to evaluate and test the software in each life‐cycle activity; relationship to the software life‐cycle process and description of standards and guidelines for planning & managing software V&V.