Validation and Verification

Learning object
• Understand the need for validation and
verification checks to be made on input data.
• Validation could include range checks, length
checks, type checks and check digits
 Key term
• Validation: an automatic check to make sure
data is sensible and possible.
• Verification: a check to see if the data entered
is correct.
 Why do we need validation and
verification ?

• When we enter data it is impossible to

guarantee that the data we enter is error free.
• When data is entered or copied from one place
to another , errors easily be introduced . It is
very easy to accidently omit data, mistype data,
or misread a value or word.
• To help prevent data entry errors, two
techniques are used: validation and verification
 Validation check
• Validation checks ensure the data being entered is
both sensible and possible . P187

• Range check
• Presence check
• Type check
• Lookup
• Length check
• Format check
 Check digit (p187)
• Using for validation check
• Using for data transmission check.
 verification
• Validation helps to make sure that data is both
possible and sensible.
• However ,validation does not ensure that the
data is correct.
• Verification is a kind of check to see if the data
entered is correct.
 Verification (P 188)
• There are three ways in which data can be
verified ,two are automated methods:
• Double entry
• Twin entry
• Proofreading
• Despite the use of validation and verification,
data can still be entered incorrectly.
• Validation and verification prevent many
mistakes but it can not stop all data entry
errors from occurring.