Compliance testing is the process of verifying that a given device meets the requirements regulating it. Regulatory compliance testing on typical electronic devices includes testing in a variety of categories:

EMC or electro-magnetic compliance testing includes tests for radiated and conducted electric emissions and susceptibility to external electric signals.

Product Safety testing covers a broad range of compliance testing areas including thermal, sharp corners, flammability, labeling and a variety of electrical safety tests including voltage withstand or hipot testing, protective earth ground bond testing, insulation resistance testing, line voltage leakage tests and power consumptions tests. While much of the EMC compliance testing is often conducted on a type basis, meaning that compliance testing is carried out on a small sample of products – electrical safety compliance testing is a form of regulatory compliance testing which is most often required to be conducted on a 100% production line basis. To be in compliance the device under test must go through all mandated safety tests with equipment which meets the standards called out in the requirement. Once tested the device under compliance testing should be marked or documented as to its status. Modern testers facilitate the electronic storage of the test data by way of automated computer interfaces such as RS232 or GPIB.