V-Model

The V-Model is a way of organizing software development that puts a strong focus on validation and verification at every step. It is called the V-Model because the process is often shown in a V-shaped diagram. On the left side are the development stages and on the right side are the testing stages that match them.

Each step in building the software has a matching test step. For example, if there is a requirements phase, there will be a user acceptance test to check those requirements. If there is a design phase, there will be integration or system tests to verify that design.

This model helps in planning tests early and keeps a clear connection between what is being built and how it will be checked. It supports quality by making sure that each part is tested based on what was planned from the beginning.

While the V-Model can be helpful in stable projects where things are well defined early on, it can be less flexible when changes happen often. That is why some teams combine it with more adaptive approaches.

For testers, the V-Model highlights the importance of being involved early in the project. It also shows how testing is not just one step at the end but something that runs in parallel with building the software.