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SRS Document Structure Overview

This Software Requirements Specification document outlines requirements for a software project. It includes sections on introduction, general description, specific requirements, and analysis models. The introduction provides an overview and defines scope, terms, and references. The general description addresses the product perspective, functions, users, and constraints. Specific requirements cover external interfaces, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, and other constraints. Analysis models describe data flow diagrams. Appendices are included for additional information.

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Agam Singh
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46 views8 pages

SRS Document Structure Overview

This Software Requirements Specification document outlines requirements for a software project. It includes sections on introduction, general description, specific requirements, and analysis models. The introduction provides an overview and defines scope, terms, and references. The general description addresses the product perspective, functions, users, and constraints. Specific requirements cover external interfaces, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, and other constraints. Analysis models describe data flow diagrams. Appendices are included for additional information.

Uploaded by

Agam Singh
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

<Project Name>

Software Requirements Specification

<Date>

<Your Name>

Prepared for
Continuous Assessment 3
Autumn 2023
<Project Name>

Revision History

Date Description Author Comments


<date> <Version 1> <Your Name> <First Revision>

Software Requirements Specification Page ii


<Project Name>

Software Requirements Specification Page iii


<Project Name>

Table of Contents

REVISION HISTORY................................................................................................................................................II
CLIENT APPROVAL.................................................................................................................................................II
1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 PURPOSE...............................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 SCOPE...................................................................................................................................................................1
1.3 DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS, AND ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................................1
1.4 REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................................................1
1.5 OVERVIEW............................................................................................................................................................1
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION....................................................................................................................................2
2.1 PRODUCT PERSPECTIVE........................................................................................................................................2
2.2 PRODUCT FUNCTIONS...........................................................................................................................................2
2.3 USER CHARACTERISTICS......................................................................................................................................2
2.4 GENERAL CONSTRAINTS.......................................................................................................................................2
2.5 ASSUMPTIONS AND DEPENDENCIES......................................................................................................................2
3. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS................................................................................................................................2
3.1 EXTERNAL INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS...............................................................................................................3
3.1.1 User Interfaces.............................................................................................................................................3
3.1.2 Hardware Interfaces....................................................................................................................................3
3.1.3 Software Interfaces.......................................................................................................................................3
3.1.4 Communications Interfaces..........................................................................................................................3
3.2 FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS...............................................................................................................................3
3.2.1 <Functional Requirement or Feature #1>..................................................................................................3
3.2.2 <Functional Requirement or Feature #2>..................................................................................................3
3.5 NON-FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS......................................................................................................................4
3.5.1 Performance.................................................................................................................................................4
3.5.2 Reliability.....................................................................................................................................................4
3.5.3 Availability...................................................................................................................................................4
3.5.4 Security.........................................................................................................................................................4
3.5.5 Maintainability.............................................................................................................................................4
3.5.6 Portability.....................................................................................................................................................4
3.7 DESIGN CONSTRAINTS..........................................................................................................................................4
3.9 OTHER REQUIREMENTS........................................................................................................................................4
4. ANALYSIS MODELS..............................................................................................................................................4
4.1 DATA FLOW DIAGRAMS (DFD)...........................................................................................................................5
A. APPENDICES..........................................................................................................................................................5
A.1 APPENDIX 1.........................................................................................................................................................5
A.2 Appendix 2..........................................................................................................................................................5

Software Requirements Specification Page iv


<Project Name>

1. Introduction
The introduction to the Software Requirement Specification (SRS) document should provide an
overview of the complete SRS document. While writing this document please remember that this
document should contain all of the information needed by a software engineer to adequately
design and implement the software product described by the requirements listed in this
document. (Note: the following subsection annotates are largely taken from the IEEE Guide to
SRS).

1.1 Purpose
What is the purpose of this SRS and the (intended) audience for which it is written.

1.2 Scope
This subsection should:
(1) Identify the software product(s) to be produced by name; for example, Host DBMS, Report
Generator, etc
(2) Explain what the software product(s) will, and, if necessary, will not do
(3) Describe the application of the software being specified. As a portion of this, it should:
(a) Describe all relevant benefits, objectives, and goals as precisely as possible. For
example, to say that one goal is to provide effective reporting capabilities is not as good
as saying parameter-driven, user-definable reports with a 2 h turnaround and on-line
entry of user parameters.
(b) Be consistent with similar statements in higher-level specifications (for example, the
System Requirement Specification) , if they [Link] is the scope of this software
product.

1.3 Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations


This subsection should provide the definitions of all terms, acronyms, and abbreviations required
to properly interpret the SRS. This information may be provided by reference to one or more
appendixes in the SRS or by reference to other documents.

1.4 References
This subsection should:
(1) Provide a complete list of all documents referenced elsewhere in the SRS, or in a separate,
specified document.
(2) Identify each document by title, report number - if applicable - date, and publishing
organization.
(3) Specify the sources from which the references can be obtained.
This information may be provided by reference to an appendix or to another document.

1.5 Overview
This subsection should:
(1) Describe what the rest of the SRS contains

Software Requirements Specification Page 1


<Project Name>

(2) Explain how the SRS is organized.

2. General Description
This section of the SRS should describe the general factors that affect 'the product and its
requirements. It should be made clear that this section does not state specific requirements; it
only makes those requirements easier to understand.

2.1 Product Perspective


This subsection of the SRS puts the product into perspective with other related products or
projects. (See the IEEE Guide to SRS for more details).

2.2 Product Functions


This subsection of the SRS should provide a summary of the functions that the software will
perform.

2.3 User Characteristics


This subsection of the SRS should describe those general characteristics of the eventual users of
the product that will affect the specific requirements. (See the IEEE Guide to SRS for more
details).

2.4 General Constraints


This subsection of the SRS should provide a general description of any other items that will
limit the developer’s options for designing the system. (See the IEEE Guide to SRS for a partial
list of possible general constraints).

2.5 Assumptions and Dependencies


This subsection of the SRS should list each of the factors that affect the requirements stated in
the SRS. These factors are not design constraints on the software but are, rather, any changes to
them that can affect the requirements in the SRS. For example, an assumption might be that a
specific operating system will be available on the hardware designated for the software product.
If, in fact, the operating system is not available, the SRS would then have to change accordingly.

3. Specific Requirements
This will be the largest and most important section of the SRS. The customer requirements will
be embodied within Section 2, but this section will give the D-requirements that are used to
guide the project’s software design, implementation, and testing.

Each requirement in this section should be:


 Correct
 Traceable (both forward and backward to prior/future artifacts)
 Unambiguous
 Verifiable (i.e., testable)
 Prioritized (with respect to importance and/or stability)
Software Requirements Specification Page 2
<Project Name>

 Complete
 Consistent
 Uniquely identifiable (usually via numbering like [Link])

Attention should be paid to the carefuly organize the requirements presented in this section so
that they may easily accessed and understood. Furthermore, this SRS is not the software design
document, therefore one should avoid the tendency to over-constrain (and therefore design) the
software project within this SRS.

3.1 External Interface Requirements


3.1.1 User Interfaces
3.1.2 Hardware Interfaces
3.1.3 Software Interfaces
3.1.4 Communications Interfaces

3.2 Functional Requirements


This section describes specific features of the software project. If desired, some requirements
may be specified in the use-case format and listed in the Use Cases Section.
3.2.1 <Functional Requirement or Feature #1>
[Link] Introduction
[Link] Inputs
[Link] Processing
[Link] Outputs
[Link] Error Handling
3.2.2 <Functional Requirement or Feature #2>
…

3.5 Non-Functional Requirements


Non-functional requirements may exist for the following attributes. Often these requirements
must be achieved at a system-wide level rather than at a unit level. State the requirements in the
following sections in measurable terms (e.g., 95% of transaction shall be processed in less than
a second, system downtime may not exceed 1 minute per day, > 30 day MTBF value, etc).

Software Requirements Specification Page 3


<Project Name>

3.5.1 Performance
3.5.2 Reliability
3.5.3 Availability
3.5.4 Security
3.5.5 Maintainability
3.5.6 Portability

3.7 Design Constraints


Specify design constrains imposed by other standards, company policies, hardware limitation,
etc. that will impact this software project.

3.9 Other Requirements


Catchall section for any additional requirements.

4. Analysis Models
List all analysis models used in developing specific requirements previously given in this SRS.
Each model should include an introduction and a narrative description. Furthermore, each
model should be traceable the SRS’s requirements.

4.1 Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)

A. Appendices
Appendices may be used to provide additional (and hopefully helpful) information. If present,
the SRS should explicitly state whether the information contained within an appendix is to be
considered as a part of the SRS’s overall set of requirements.

Example Appendices could include (initial) conceptual documents for the software project,
marketing materials, minutes of meetings with the customer(s), etc.

A.1 Appendix 1

A.2 Appendix 2

Software Requirements Specification Page 4

Common questions

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Testability of functional requirements is critical because it provides a way to verify that the software meets the defined needs through concrete, measurable tests. This contributes to the overall quality by ensuring that each requirement can be validated during testing phases, reducing the risk of defects going unnoticed. Testable requirements support a robust verification process, encouraging thorough evaluation and correction approaches during development. This ability to definitively confirm that requirements are fulfilled enhances reliability and stakeholder confidence in the final software product .

Design constraints in the SRS refer to limitations imposed on the design by standards, company policies, hardware limitations, or other external factors. They differ from specific requirements as they do not describe what the system should do, but rather how the system must be built to comply with these constraints. They influence architectural decisions, technology choices, and overall system organization. While specific requirements define system behavior, design constraints shape the boundary conditions within which the system must operate, impacting aspects like security standards or hardware specifications .

Assumptions and dependencies in an SRS are significant because they identify factors that underpin the requirements but are outside the direct control of the project team. They highlight implicit expectations about the operating environment or external systems that the project relies on. If conditions change—such as a key technological assumption no longer being valid, or a dependency not being fulfilled—the SRS needs to be updated accordingly. This adapts the project's requirements to the new context, helping maintain the project's feasibility and alignment with actual conditions, thus ensuring successful deployment .

General constraints in an SRS affect the design and development by limiting the scope of system options that developers can consider, shaping the project's architecture and resource allocation. Typical constraints might include hardware limitations, regulatory standards, technology stack preferences, compatibility requirements with other systems, and available budget and timelines. By acknowledging these constraints early in the SRS, developers can make informed decisions that align the final product with realistic boundaries and stakeholder expectations .

Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) in an SRS enhance understanding by visually representing how data moves within a system, illustrating the interactions between processes and data stores. They are significant in the analysis model section because they provide a clear, graphical depiction of system requirements, helping stakeholders visualize data processing and flow, which might be complex if described textually. DFDs contribute to identifying inconsistencies or redundancies in system requirements and ensuring alignment with business processes .

The purpose of a Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document is to provide a complete description of the software systems' intended functionality and constraints, serving as a contract between the buyer and the developer. It is critical for the design and implementation phases because it contains all necessary information for a software engineer to adequately design and implement the software product. This ensures that the product meets the needs of the users and other stakeholders, supports traceability, and minimizes risk by clearly defining the expected outcomes and criteria for acceptance .

Appendices in an SRS document serve to provide additional information that can be helpful for understanding the main content of the SRS. They might include conceptual documents, marketing materials, meeting minutes with customers, or background research. Appendices can clarify requirements or provide context but must clearly state whether the enclosed information is considered part of the overall set of requirements, thus aiding in correctly interpreting and implementing the content of the main document .

Non-functional requirements in the SRS are defined in measurable terms, such as system performance targets or reliability figures. They are important for system-wide applications because they describe attributes affecting the usability and effectiveness of the entire system rather than specific functionalities. For example, they can include performance (e.g., speed and efficiency), security, maintainability, and scalability. Addressing these requirements ensures that the system as a whole meets user needs, operates efficiently under expected conditions, and remains sustainable over time .

To ensure effectiveness, the specific requirements section of an SRS should be: correct, traceable, unambiguous, verifiable, prioritized, complete, and consistent. Correctness ensures that the requirements accurately represent the needs as identified by stakeholders. Traceability allows requirements to be tracked back to their sources or forward to where they are used in design and testing. Unambiguity ensures requirements are clear and can be interpreted only one way. Verifiable requirements can be tested to confirm they are met during development. Prioritization helps manage resources efficiently by addressing the most critical needs first. Completeness ensures no requirements are omitted. Consistency prevents conflicts that could undermine the design .

The organization of the SRS document affects its utility and accessibility by influencing how easily stakeholders can locate, understand, and apply the information it contains. Structural elements that should be prioritized include a clear table of contents, consistent section numbering, and logical grouping of related requirements. This ensures that software engineers can efficiently trace requirements, understand dependencies, and link them to design and implementation efforts. Prioritizing clarity and organization helps prevent errors, saves time, and facilitates better integration of stakeholder feedback .

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