Technical requirements are essential documents that specialists use to address technical issues related to software development. These requirements are crucial in ensuring that software and systems are developed correctly and efficiently. By understanding technical requirements, individuals can gain a better understanding of the software development process and how to effectively utilize the final product.
Technical requirements, also known as specs, are the technical challenges that need to be resolved in order to complete a project or develop a product. These requirements encompass various technical elements, such as software performance, reliability, and accessibility. For example, if you are designing online word processing software that is only compatible with a specific web browser due to an essential integration mechanism, this would be considered a technical requirement.
The importance of technical requirements lies in their ability to define how software should function and behave. Clear and well-defined technical requirements help developers and users understand how to use the software effectively. Technical requirement documentation is essential for constructing a project or program with a well-defined implementation process. These documents may vary for each project, but they all serve the same purpose of ensuring that stakeholders have a clear understanding of the software's requirements and project estimates.
There are various technical requirements that may be needed for different projects or industries. While there is no universal list of technical needs for every project, here are 17 examples of technical requirements:
1. Accessibility: Ensuring that a service, product, or technology is accessible to everyone, often through features like closed captions for hard-of-hearing individuals.
2. Authorization and authentication: Implementing systems that follow authentication and authorization policies to verify data and grant access.
3. Availability: Measuring the percentage of time that a software or resource is available for usage.
4. Data quality: Ensuring high-quality data for operational and decision-making purposes.
5. Human error detection: Implementing features that help identify incorrect input and alert users to resolve discrepancies.
6. Information security: Encrypting and securing user credentials and sensitive data to ensure privacy and protection.
7. Internal controls: Restricting access to encrypted data and decryption keys to authorized personnel.
8. Interoperability: Ensuring that software is fully compatible with various operating systems, browsers, and devices.
9. Maintainability: Ensuring that software can be easily maintained and updated to fix technical issues promptly.
10. Performance: Establishing performance requirements for software in terms of wait times and loading times.
11. Privacy: Protecting sensitive consumer data from unauthorized access.
12. Productivity: Implementing features that enhance user productivity, such as auto-generated data entry.
13. Reliability: Ensuring that a system or software has a high level of reliability by minimizing downtimes and breakdowns.
14. Serviceability: Ensuring that software can be updated or modified without causing system shutdowns.
15. Standard compliance: Ensuring that software meets security and architectural standards.
16. System errors: Generating error codes to alert users of system errors and providing solutions.
17. Vendor lock-in: Implementing open-source software to allow users to customize and modify the software according to their needs.
In conclusion, technical requirements play a crucial role in software development by defining how software should function and behave. Understanding these requirements is essential for developers and users to effectively utilize software products and systems. By implementing clear technical requirements, stakeholders can ensure the successful development and implementation of software projects.