To prove something to be sound or logical. Also to certify conformance to a standard. Contrast with "verify," which means to prove something to be correct.
For example, data entry validity checking determines whether the data make sense (numbers fall within a range, numeric data are all digits, etc.), but "validity" checking does not "verify" that the data are correct. Even if the check digit in a customer account number is determined to be a valid number, it may still be the wrong number for that individual. In practice however, the terms "validate" and "verify" are often used synonymously. See validity checking, check digit and HTML validator.
Errors Can Be Laughable
Validating data typed into the computer is not a complicated concept. However, with regard to proper names, if there is no existing database to compare to, validation is a time-consuming job. The only way to ensure correct spelling is to have two different operators type the same name twice or to have a person visually compare what has been typed by another.
Is That Really the Name?
Residents of Everittstown, New Jersey would surely get a chuckle if they were driving a car in their town with this GPS navigation system. Of course, if the error was ever reported, an updated DVD disc would solve the problem.
For example, data entry validity checking determines whether the data make sense (numbers fall within a range, numeric data are all digits, etc.), but "validity" checking does not "verify" that the data are correct. Even if the check digit in a customer account number is determined to be a valid number, it may still be the wrong number for that individual. In practice however, the terms "validate" and "verify" are often used synonymously. See validity checking, check digit and HTML validator.
Errors Can Be Laughable
Validating data typed into the computer is not a complicated concept. However, with regard to proper names, if there is no existing database to compare to, validation is a time-consuming job. The only way to ensure correct spelling is to have two different operators type the same name twice or to have a person visually compare what has been typed by another.
Is That Really the Name?
Residents of Everittstown, New Jersey would surely get a chuckle if they were driving a car in their town with this GPS navigation system. Of course, if the error was ever reported, an updated DVD disc would solve the problem.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Signature995 9.0 (Windows)
- Signature995 allows you to securely transmit and digitally sign PDFs, Office documents and zip archives quickly, affordably, and easily. It uses native PDF 128 bit RC4 encryption to restrict users from printing, copying text and images and modifying PDF files. Signature995 uses Microsoft Cryptographic technologies to provide 128-bit DES encryption,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-04
- Advanced ETL Processor 2.4.2.8 (Windows)
- Advanced ETL Processor extracts data from any database, transforms, validates it and loads into another database automatically. A unique technology called "What You See Is What You Load" saves a lot of time during testing and design of validation and transformation processes. It shows you how the data will be...
- Software downloads 2009-10-26
- FictionSoftware HashTray 1.2.0 (Windows)
- HashTray is a windows hash calculator for verification of file integrity. With HashTray you can generate different hashes for a single file, or use the multi file hasher to easy compare files or find duplicate files. Use the 'Download & Verify' feature to automatically validate downloaded files.
- Software downloads 2009-10-21
- Advanced URL Catalog 2.14 (Windows)
- Advanced URL Catalog is a complete bookmark management solution that will allow you to manage, organize, synchronize, remove duplicates and validate your favorite Internet pages. Powerful integration with all browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Netscape) and with online social bookmarking services like Del.icio.us. You can import, export and synchronize your...
- Software downloads 2009-10-20
- Patch Tuesday: MS plugs critical IE, Windows Media Player holes
- Is MS going to pay for my Gb/month overage?With ISPs grasping for profits I see the day when the "download cost" of these mega-patches become an issue!RE: Patch Tuesday: MS plugs critical IE, Windows Media Player holesWow, my Microsoft software is sure to be secure now.GOOD JOB!If only other manufacturers...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-13
- Gartner: Windows 7 is 'all but inevitable'
- Completely Disagree with Gartner's Recommendations...I would be skipping Vista at this point, and aborting all Vista deployment plans. Why? Simple...Any IT staff that is deploying Vista en mass to their enterprises bought it with Volume Licensing, which means they probably bought it with Software Assurance... better to use those support...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-13
- WeBuilder 2010 10.0.118 (Windows)
- WeBuilder is revolutionary all-in-one taxt-based Web code editor that enables you to edit HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, ASP, Ruby and other web documents within single program. Clean and convenient interface, quick startup, true flexibility, and powerful features allow you to create and edit HTML, CSS, JavaScript, VBScript, WML, PHP, ASP,...
- Software downloads 2009-10-11
- Rapid CSS 2010 10.0.0.118 (Windows)
- With Rapid CSS Editor you can quickly and easily create, edit and validate cascading style sheets of any size and complexity. You can write the style sheet code manually or let the program do it for you. In each case it is easy because of the many helpful features, including...
- Software downloads 2009-10-11
- Rapid PHP 2010 10.0.118 (Windows)
- Rapid PHP editor is a PHP editor with a debugger and UTF-8 support. Features enable you to create and edit not only PHP, but also HTML, XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript code, while integrated tools allow you to validate, reuse, navigate, and format your code. Whether you are a professional developer...
- Software downloads 2009-10-11
- HTMLPad 2010 Pro 10.0.0.118 (Windows)
- HTMLPad is a sophisticated all-in-one HTML, CSS, JavaScript and XHTML editor, trusted by thousands of professional web developers and many learners in over 50 countries. Clean and convenient interface, quick startup, true flexibility and powerful features allow you to create and edit HTML, XHTML, CSS and JavaScript code faster and...
- Software downloads 2009-10-11
- WebESC 7.04 (Windows)
- WebESC is a utility to help you validate Web links. You can verify links existency, and changes in sizes of remote files. You can compare your site stored locally on your disk to your web site as can verify if all the files are succesfully uploaded or changed by a...
- Software downloads 2009-10-09
- IBM targets Google Apps for business, undercuts pricing and touts reliability
- Good newsWhile I'm not a big fan of IBM due to the usual cost associated with their offerings, I like their products overall and the fact that IBM is one of if not the largest proponent of open source software. I've used Lotus Notes and found it not as...
- Discussion threads 2009-10-02
- XEditor 2.1.2 (Windows)
- XEditor is a Java based application that allows to view, analyse, validate, edit and print the contents of X9 Image Cash Letter files, to the following Standards: X9.37 DSTU-2003; X9.100-180-2006; X9.100-180-TECH; Universal Companion Document UCD; X9.100-181 Image Validation; X9.100-187next release. With the Image Validation plugin, view and validate images in...
- Software downloads 2009-09-30
- Google Docs keeps getting better in Ed
- A reader of my post yesterday on online education suggested that I not teach any of the classes if I open my own "education aggregator" school. His fear? That the only course I could teach would be Google 101. Although I hate to validate his fears, I have...
- Blog posts 2009-09-29
- AnyDbTest 2.3 (Windows)
- AnyDbTest is the first automated DB unit testing tool available using Xml as test case. AnyDbTest is just designed for DBA/DB developers. It supports all kinds of popular database, such as Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL. AnyDbTest can also be used to validate the replication, ETL, DTS & SSIS result....
- Software downloads 2009-09-28
- iCompta 3.3.5 (Mac)
- iCompta is an application that lets you manage your personal accounts with ease. Each account can have its own currency and you can organize operations by type. You can then sort and filter operations to make statistics on your incomes and expenses. You can show a graph of the balance...
- Software downloads 2009-09-19
- Spring Design & Validation 7.50 (Windows)
- IST's spring design software is available for compression, extension, torsion, rectangular wire compression, conical compression, non-standard compression, disc and spiral springs. You can validate an existing design or automatically calculate the lightest spring that meets your needs. Designs and tolerances are calculated to EN, SMI, BS, DIN, JIS and IS...
- Software downloads 2009-09-18
- Phishers introduce 'Chat-in-the-Middle' fraud tactic
- Phishers don't just want to "bank with you", they also want to talk you into revealing the answers to your 'secret' questions, next to more sensitive information that would help them gain access to your online bank account. A new 'Chat-in-the-Middle' fraud tactic was recently discovered by...
- Blog posts 2009-09-16
- 3D Issue Professional 1.0 (Mac)
- 3D Issue is a software solution that allows you to convert your press ready PDFs into page turning interactive digital editions. 3D Issue is not a service. Once you purchase a company license thats it. There are no additional costs or charges. You can use this license to produce digital...
- Software downloads 2009-09-14
- Safari Tidy plugin 0.2.8 (Mac)
- The Safari Tidy plugin is a small plugin that lets you validate the webpages you browse for xhtml compliance. The actual validation is done by Tidy.
- Software downloads 2009-09-07
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
SmartPlanet
- Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
- More from IBM
-
- Can your business work smarter? Learn more about Lotus Symphony
- Learn how to work smarter and optimize cost using the IBM Smart SOA approach Download the eBook
- Smarter ways to make smarter products Read the brief from IBM
