What does validation confirm in testing?

Validation in testing is fundamentally concerned with ensuring that the software meets the needs and requirements of the user for its intended purpose. It assesses whether the product actually fulfills the requirements set out for it, focusing on the end-user experience and the context in which the software will operate.

When we say that validation confirms that requirements for a specific intended use have been met, it means that the software has been evaluated to determine if it is capable of performing in the real-world scenarios for which it was designed. This could involve user acceptance testing, where actual users engage with the system to verify that it behaves as expected in practical applications.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the essence of validation in the same way. While fulfilling specified requirements is more aligned with verification, which ensures the system meets defined specifications, the focus of validation is broader and includes practical application. Monitoring project costs or checking user interfaces, though important aspects of software development, do not directly relate to the validation process. Therefore, the concept of validation aligns most accurately with confirming that the software meets the requirements for its intended use.