Requirements engineering gathers, analyzes, and documents stakeholder needs. It translates business goals into technical specifications. You distinguish functional requirements from non-functional ones. Functional requirements state the system actions. Non-functional requirements dictate performance, security, and usability constraints.
These define system capabilities. A user creates an account. A customer purchases an item. The system generates an invoice. They describe the exact interactions.
These constrain the system architecture. They set SLAs. They enforce encryption standards. They mandate accessibility compliance targets. They dictate uptime percentages.
Engineers interview stakeholders. They analyze existing legacy systems. They document expectations in tracking software. Precise requirements prevent scope creep. They ensure alignment between developers and business units. Clear specifications construct the foundation for a successful project.