Verification
These are checks to ensure data is consistent. For example, many people use comparison websites to get quotes for insurance such as car insurance or home insurance. It is common for the customer to create an account first so that the insurance quotation can be stored and retrieved at a later date. As part of this process, the customer has to input a password which is verified.
Double Entry - This process is called the double entry method. The customer is asked to type their password twice and both entries are compared to check for consistency i.e. they are the same.
Validation
These are checks carried out by software on input to ensure data is sensible e.g.
Type Check - Some fields such as Number of Years with a valid license may be set to a type check e.g. entry must be a number. Data input such as B or # would be rejected,
Presence Check - Checking that data has been entered into a field e.g. Post Code
Range Check - The number of whole years since the driver made an insurance claim is validated. A range check would be a suitable validation check that would be carried out on the number of whole years. A sensible entry would be to set limits such as between 0-60. An example of invalid data that would be detected by this check would be -1 or 74 .
Checking date of birth is over 18 or can't make a sale in the past or future
Format Check - This is an example validation check that could be carried out on the customer’s email address such as
email address has a string@string.string
Example of invalid data would be abczyz$email.co.uk
or capital letter on a first name or surname
Length Check - Checking how many characters have been entered e.g. telephone number = 11 or Postcode >7 or credit card number = 16