Validation and Verification

G-II / III

Validation and verification are two ways to check that the data entered into a computer is correct.
Data entered incorrectly is of little use.

Data verification

Verification is performed to ensure that the data entered exactly matches the original
source. Verification means checking the input data with the original data to make sure that there have
been no transcription errors (transcription means copying the data). The standard way to do this is to
input the data twice to the computer system. The computer then checks the two data values (which should
be the same) and, if they are different, the computer knows that one of the inputs is wrong. e.g. Entering
password twice during sig-up. Verification methods include:

Ø double entry
Ø screen/visual check (proof reading)
Ø parity check
Ø checksum.

Validation is an automatic computer check to ensure that the data entered is sensible and reasonable. It
does not check the accuracy of data.

For example, a secondary school student is likely to be aged between 11 and 16. The computer can be
programmed only to accept numbers between 11 and 16. This is a range check.

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Subject Specialist: O / A Level Computer SciencePage 1
 Validation and Verification
G-II / III

How it works Example usage

Validation
type
Range check Checks that a value falls within the specified range Number of hours worked
must be less than 50 and
more than 0
Length check Checks the data isn't too short or too long. values must be a A password which needs to be
specific length. six letters long
Limit Check Similar to Range Check but the rule involves only one limit. >=0 means reject negative
numbers. Date of birth must
not be later than a date.
Type Check Checks that the data entered is of a given data type, Number of brothers or
sisters would be an integer
(whole number).
Character Checks that when a string of characters is entered it does not A name would not contain
Check contain any invalid characters or symbols, characters such as %, and a
telephone number would only
contain digits or (, ), and+.
Format Checks the data is in the right format. Values must conform to a A National Insurance number
Check specific pattern, for example, two letters followed by six digits is in the form LL 99 99 99 L
followed by a single letter where L is any letter and 9 is
any number
Presence Checks that data has been entered into a field In most databases a key field
check cannot be left blank
Check digit The last one in a code are used to check the other digits are Bar code readers in
correct supermarkets use check
digits
However, this does not guarantee that the number typed in is correct. For example, a student's age might
be 14, but if 11 is entered it will be valid but incorrect.

Types of validation

There are a number of validation types that can be used to check the data that is being entered.

Q1) Activity of data validation and verification:

1) What is an automatic computer check to make sure data entered is sensible and reasonable known as?

a) Double entry b) Verification c) Validation

2) What validation type would make sure a post code was entered in the correct format?

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 Validation and Verification
G-II / III

a) Length check b) Format Check c) Presence check

3) What validation type would you use to check that numbers fell within a certain range?

a) Range check b) Presence Check c) Check digit

4) What validation type checks that a field is not left blank?

a) Format check b) Length check c) Presence check

5) What validation type uses the last one or two digits to check the other digits are correct?

a) Length check b) Format check c) Check digit

6) What validation type checks a minimum number of characters have been entered?

a) Length check b) Format check c) Range check

7) Data is to be entered into a computer in the format YYMMDD. Which of the following is not a valid
date?

a) 310921 b) 211113 c) 21st June 2004

8) Which of the following statements is false?

a) Validation can check that the data is sensible

b) Validation can check that the data falls between certain allowable boundaries

c) Validation can check that the data is correct

9) Which of the following is NOT a method of verification?

a) Double entry - typing the data in twice and getting the computer to check the second version against
the first

b) Using presence, range and length checks to make sure that no mistakes happen

c) Printing out what you have typed in and comparing it against the source data

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Subject Specialist: O / A Level Computer SciencePage 3
 Validation and Verification
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Summer 2014 pq11)

A hospital holds records of its patients in a database. Four of the fields are:
• date of visit (dd/mm/yyyy)
• patient’s height (m)
• 8-digit patient ID
• contact telephone number

The presence check is one possible type of validation check on the data. For each field, give another
validation check that can be performed. Give an example of data which would fail your named validation
check. A different validation check needs to be given for each field.

name of validation check example of data which would fail

field name the validation check
date of visit

patient’s height

patient ID

Contact telephone
number

Summer 2013 P12

A company requests new customers who register online to give the following details:
• name
• address
• type of credit/debit card
• payment card number
All details must be entered.

(a) (i) Describe one suitable different validation check for each field.

Name: __________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________

type of credit/debit card: ___________________________________________________________

payment card number_____________________________________________________________ [4]

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Summer 2012 P12

State two different validation checks and give an example of their use. Each example
should be different.
Check 1: _________________________________________________________________________

Use: ____________________________________________________________________________

Check 2: _________________________________________________________________________

Use: _________________________________________________________________________ [4]

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