Understanding verification vs validation is essential for ensuring software quality throughout the development lifecycle. While both aim to reduce defects, they focus on different aspects of the product.

Verification ensures the product is being built correctly according to specifications. It answers the question: Are we building the product right? Typical activities include:

Reviewing requirements and design documents

Code inspections and walkthroughs

Static analysis of deliverables

Validation ensures the final product meets user needs and expectations. It answers the question: Are we building the right product? Common activities include:

Functional and system testing

User acceptance testing (UAT)

Real-world scenario testing

In short, verification focuses on correctness against specifications, while validation focuses on actual usability and business alignment. Both are crucial for delivering reliable, high-quality software.