'''Conformance testing''' or '''type testing''' is testing to determine whether a new product or system complies with the requirements of a [[specification]], [[contract]] or [[regulation]]. It is often [[physical test]]ing but may involve [[chemical test]]ing or requirements for efficiency or interoperability. To aid in this, many test procedures and test setups have been developed, either by the standard's maintainers or external organizations, specifically for testing conformance to standards. Conformance testing is sometimes performed by external organizations, which is sometimes the standards body itself, to give greater assurance of compliance. Products tested in such a manner are then advertised as being certified by that external organization as complying with the [[technical standard]]. Service providers, equipment manufacturers, and equipment suppliers rely on this data to ensure [[Quality of Service]] (QoS) through this conformance process.
