What is validation testing?
Validation testing is a method for ensuring that the product or feature meets the actual needs of a user or customer. As such, this type of testing is typically performed in actual-use environments after reaching a production-ready state.
Note that validation isn’t about whether or not your product satisfies formal specs or requirements. That’s verification, which is a related (but distinct) concept.
Why is validation testing important?
At the risk of stating the obvious, if what you’ve built doesn’t actually satisfy the needs of your users, then you’ve missed the mark. Validation testing provides a final check to make sure your product or release does meet their needs.
However, validation testing is not a substitute for talking to customers in the planning stages of a project, gathering feedback throughout development, etc. Companies who wait until the end of development to involve users run the risk of significant wasted effort.
Who does validation testing?
Typically validation testing happens with real users, but in conjunction with QA testers. QA teams will perform a series of tests to ensure that the product meets acceptance criteria and validate it works in a production environment. Real customers use the product in natural environments and evaluate the product based on the usability, satisfaction, and overall quality to give the product team a sense of how the product performs.
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