validates

Validates is the third-person singular present tense of the verb validate. It means to establish the truth, accuracy, or legitimacy of something, or to confirm that something conforms to a set of rules, standards, or requirements. In general use, one might say a witness statement validates the claim, or a government agency validates a contract to make it legally enforceable. In law, to validate a document can mean to give it official recognition or enforceability.

The word derives from the verb validate, which comes from Latin roots through French, formed with the sense of proving or making valid. Related terms include validation (the process of validating) and validator (the agent or tool that performs validation). The sense of validation is central to many fields, where items, data, or identities must be checked for correctness or authenticity before they are accepted or acted upon.

In computing and data handling, validation refers to checking input or data against defined rules to ensure correctness, completeness, and safety. Software may validate user input, data formats, or digital signatures to prevent errors or misuse. Legal and regulatory contexts also use validation to ensure documents, processes, or systems meet required standards before they are sanctioned or deployed.

Examples of usage include: The protocol validates user credentials before granting access, the researchers validated their model with independent data, and the form was validated to ensure all required fields were completed. See also validation, verification, and authentication.