IEEE Standard for System, Software, and Hardware Verification and Validation

The Verification and Validation (V&V) processes are used to determine whether the development products of a given activity conform to the requirements of that activity and whether the product satisfies its intended use and user needs. V&V life cycle process requirements are specified for different integrity levels. The scope of V&V processes encompasses systems, software, and hardware, and it includes their interfaces. Systems, software, and hardware being developed, maintained, or reused [legacy, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), non-developmental items] can be the system of interest to which this standard is applied. The term software also includes firmware and microcode, and each of the terms system, software, and hardware includes related information or documentation. V&V processes include the analysis, evaluation, review, inspection, assessment, and testing of products.