Validation is the ‘confirmation of plausibility for a specific intended use or application through the provision of objective evidence that specified requirements have been fulfilled,’ as defined in ISO/IEC 17000 Conformity Assessment – Vocabulary and General Principles.

Validation establishes that a product, process or system fulfills its intended purpose and meets the needs of its intended users. It ensures that a product operates effectively and reliably in its intended environment.

Verification is the ‘confirmation of truthfulness through the provision of objective evidence that specified requirements have been fulfilled,’ as defined in ISO/IEC 17000 Conformity Assessment – Vocabulary and General Principles.

Verification establishes that a product, process or system complies with specified requirements or design specifications. It confirms conformity with predetermined criteria, ensuring that a product has been built correctly according to its design.

Validation and verification are integral components of conformity assessment, providing assurance of quality, safety and regulatory compliance across diverse sectors. These processes are also applied to claims related to environmental performance and sustainability.

Validation and verification bodies may seek accreditation to ISO/IEC 17029, which contains general principles and requirements for the competence, consistent operation and impartiality of bodies performing validation and verification.