‭Software Requirements Specification (SRS)‬

‭ ‬‭Software Requirements Specification (SRS)‬‭is a detailed‬‭document that‬

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‭describes the functional and non-functional requirements of a software‬
‭system. It serves as a blueprint for developers, testers, stakeholders, and‬
‭project managers to understand the system's expected behavior, scope, and‬
‭constraints. The SRS bridges the gap between what stakeholders expect and‬
‭what developers deliver.‬

‭Key Components of an SRS‬

‭1.‬ ‭Introduction‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Purpose‬‭: Explains the objective of the system and‬‭the purpose‬
‭of the SRS document.‬
‭○‬ ‭Scope‬‭: Describes the system's scope, including what‬‭it will and‬
‭will not do.‬
‭○‬ ‭Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations‬‭: Lists terms‬‭used in‬
‭the document.‬
‭○‬ ‭References‬‭: Provides links or citations to related‬‭documents,‬
‭standards, or guidelines.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Overall Description‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Product Perspective‬‭: Describes how the system fits‬‭into the‬
‭existing environment, including interfaces with other systems.‬
‭○‬ ‭Product Functions‬‭: Summarizes the major functions‬‭of the‬
‭system.‬
‭○‬ ‭User Characteristics‬‭: Defines the intended users,‬‭their roles,‬
‭skills, and experience.‬
‭○‬ ‭Assumptions and Dependencies‬‭: Lists assumptions about‬‭the‬
‭system's environment and dependencies on external factors.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Functional Requirements‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Specifies the system's behavior, detailing inputs, processes, and‬
‭outputs.‬
‭○‬ ‭Example: "The system shall allow users to reset their password‬
‭via email verification."‬
‭4.‬ ‭Non-Functional Requirements‬‭:‬
 ‭○‬ D ‭ escribes performance, security, usability, reliability, and‬
‭scalability requirements.‬
‭○‬ ‭Example: "The system shall handle up to 10,000 concurrent‬
‭users with a response time of less than 2 seconds."‬
‭5.‬ ‭External Interface Requirements‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Details how the system interacts with external systems,‬
‭hardware, and users.‬
‭○‬ ‭Includes user interfaces, APIs, and communication protocols.‬
‭6.‬ ‭System Models‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Provides diagrams like use-case diagrams, context diagrams, or‬
‭data flow diagrams (DFDs) to illustrate the system's structure and‬
‭behavior.‬
‭7.‬ ‭Constraints‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Specifies restrictions such as regulatory compliance, hardware‬
‭limitations, or specific technologies that must be used.‬
‭8.‬ ‭Validation Criteria‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Defines how the system will be tested to ensure it meets‬
‭requirements.‬

‭Characteristics of a Good SRS‬

‭1.‬ ‭Correct‬‭: A good SRS should accurately represent the system's‬

‭requirements, ensuring they align with the expectations and needs of‬
‭stakeholders. It must be free from errors, contradictions, and‬
‭misinterpretations, providing a solid foundation for system‬
‭development. Accuracy in capturing what stakeholders truly want‬
‭ensures that the system delivers value and meets its intended‬
‭objectives.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Complete:‬‭The SRS must encompass all functional requirements,‬
‭specifying the behaviors, inputs, and outputs of the system, as well as‬
‭non-functional requirements such as performance, security, and‬
‭usability constraints. It should address every aspect of the system that‬
‭impacts its operation, leaving no gaps that could cause issues during‬
‭development or deployment.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Unambiguous:‬‭Every requirement in the SRS must be clearly defined‬
‭using precise language to prevent multiple interpretations. This avoids‬
‭misunderstandings among stakeholders, developers, and testers,‬
 ‭ nsuring all parties have the same understanding of the system's‬
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‭needs and expectations.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Verifiable:‬‭Requirements in the SRS should be stated in a manner that‬
‭makes them measurable and testable. This means providing clear‬
‭criteria for acceptance, enabling the development team to confirm‬
‭during testing that the requirements have been implemented correctly‬
‭and fulfill their intended purpose.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Consistent:‬‭The document should maintain logical coherence,‬
‭ensuring that no requirement contradicts another. Consistency‬
‭eliminates confusion and prevents development errors caused by‬
‭conflicting requirements, promoting a unified approach to system‬
‭design and implementation.‬
‭6.‬ ‭Modifiable:‬‭As requirements often evolve during the development‬
‭process, the SRS should be structured to facilitate easy updates. This‬
‭includes using a clear organization, version control, and consistent‬
‭formatting to accommodate changes without compromising the‬
‭document’s integrity.‬
‭7.‬ ‭Traceable:‬‭Each requirement should have a unique identifier and be‬
‭linked to its origin, such as stakeholder inputs, project goals, or‬
‭regulations. Additionally, requirements should be traceable through all‬
‭stages of development, from design and implementation to testing,‬
‭ensuring that all requirements are fulfilled and accounted for.‬

‭Benefits of SRS‬

‭1.‬ ‭Clarity and Agreement‬‭: Ensures all stakeholders have a common‬

‭understanding of the system.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Guidance for Development‬‭: Acts as a reference for‬‭developers to‬
‭design and implement the system.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Basis for Testing‬‭: Provides a benchmark for verifying that the system‬
‭meets its requirements.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Cost and Time Management‬‭: Reduces the likelihood of‬‭scope creep,‬
‭saving time and resources.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Documentation‬‭: Serves as a formal record of what the system is‬
‭intended to do.‬

‭Requirement Elicitation Techniques‬

‭ equirement elicitation‬‭involves gathering, identifying, and defining the‬
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‭requirements of a system from stakeholders, users, and other sources. It is a‬
‭critical phase in the software development lifecycle, as well-defined‬
‭requirements ensure successful system design and implementation. Various‬
‭techniques are used to elicit requirements based on the complexity of the‬
‭system, stakeholders involved, and the domain.‬

‭Techniques for Requirement Elicitation‬

‭1.‬ ‭Interviews‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭A face-to-face or virtual interaction with stakeholders to gather‬
‭requirements directly.‬
‭○‬ ‭Types‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Structured: Predefined questions are asked.‬
‭■‬ ‭Unstructured: Open-ended and exploratory.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Allows in-depth exploration of needs.‬
‭■‬ ‭Builds rapport with stakeholders.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Time-consuming.‬
‭■‬ ‭May lead to incomplete or biased information.‬
‭2.‬ ‭Questionnaires and Surveys‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Distributing a set of questions to stakeholders to collect‬
‭requirements from a large audience.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Cost-effective and scalable.‬
‭■‬ ‭Provides quantitative data.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Limited flexibility for clarification.‬
‭■‬ ‭Depends on the quality of the questions.‬
‭3.‬ ‭Workshops‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭A collaborative session involving stakeholders and team‬
‭members to discuss and define requirements.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Encourages brainstorming and consensus.‬
‭■‬ ‭Quick resolution of conflicts.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
 ‭ ‬ ‭Requires skilled facilitators.‬
■
‭■‬ ‭Can be challenging to manage diverse opinions.‬
‭4.‬ ‭Focus Groups‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭A moderated discussion with a group of users or stakeholders to‬
‭explore their needs and opinions.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Provides diverse perspectives.‬
‭■‬ ‭Identifies shared priorities.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Risk of groupthink or dominant voices overshadowing‬
‭others.‬
‭5.‬ ‭Observation‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Watching users perform their tasks to understand their workflow,‬
‭challenges, and needs.‬
‭○‬ ‭Types‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Passive: Observer does not interact.‬
‭■‬ ‭Active: Observer interacts and asks questions.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Captures real-world practices.‬
‭■‬ ‭Identifies implicit requirements.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Time-consuming.‬
‭■‬ ‭Users may modify behavior when observed.‬
‭6.‬ ‭Prototyping‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Creating a mockup or working model of the system to gather‬
‭feedback on requirements.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Visualizes requirements for stakeholders.‬
‭■‬ ‭Helps refine unclear requirements.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Can lead to scope creep.‬
‭■‬ ‭Stakeholders might confuse prototypes with final products.‬
‭7.‬ ‭Document Analysis‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭Reviewing existing documentation, such as manuals, process‬
‭diagrams, or reports, to extract requirements.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Useful for systems with legacy components.‬
 ‭ ‬ ‭Provides historical context.‬
■
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Documents may be outdated or incomplete.‬
‭8.‬ ‭Brainstorming‬‭:‬
‭○‬ ‭A group activity to generate ideas and potential requirements‬
‭through creative thinking.‬
‭○‬ ‭Advantages‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Encourages out-of-the-box thinking.‬
‭■‬ ‭Identifies innovative solutions.‬
‭○‬ ‭Challenges‬‭:‬
‭■‬ ‭Requires facilitation to stay focused.‬
‭■‬ ‭May produce unfeasible ideas.‬

‭Techniques for Requirement Modeling‬

‭ equirement modeling techniques are used to represent, organize, and‬

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‭analyze the requirements of a system. These techniques provide a structured‬
‭way to capture functional and non-functional requirements, define system‬
‭behavior, and visualize workflows. Below are detailed descriptions of‬
‭decision tables‬‭,‬‭event tables‬‭,‬‭state transition tables‬‭, and‬‭Petri nets‬‭.‬

‭1. Decision Tables‬

‭ efinition‬‭: A decision table is a tabular representation‬‭of rules or conditions‬

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‭that define the behavior of a system. It specifies what actions to take under‬
‭different combinations of input conditions.‬

‭Structure‬‭:‬

‭‬ C
● ‭ onditions‬‭: Input factors that influence the decision.‬
‭●‬ ‭Actions‬‭: Outcomes or operations performed based on‬‭conditions.‬
‭●‬ ‭Rules‬‭: Each column represents a unique combination of conditions‬
‭and the corresponding action(s).‬
‭Example‬‭:‬

‭Conditions‬ ‭Rule 1‬ ‭Rule 2‬ ‭Rule 3‬ ‭Rule‬

‭4‬

‭ ser is‬
U ‭Yes‬ ‭Yes‬ ‭No‬ ‭No‬
‭authenticated‬

‭ ayment details‬
P ‭Yes‬ ‭No‬ ‭Yes‬ ‭No‬
‭valid‬

‭Action‬ ‭ roce‬ ‭Retry‬

P ‭Deny‬ ‭Deny‬
‭ed‬

‭Uses‬‭:‬

‭‬ S
● ‭ implifies complex decision-making processes.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ensures all possible combinations of conditions are considered.‬
‭●‬ ‭Useful for systems with many conditional workflows, such as‬
‭e-commerce or banking systems.‬

‭2. Event Tables‬

‭ efinition‬‭: An event table represents events that‬‭trigger processes or actions‬

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‭in the system and their corresponding responses. It helps map the‬
‭relationship between events, triggers, conditions, and actions.‬

‭Structure‬‭:‬

‭‬
● ‭ vent‬‭: A specific occurrence that triggers a process.‬
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‭●‬ ‭Trigger‬‭: The condition or input that initiates the‬‭event.‬
‭●‬ ‭Source‬‭: The origin of the event.‬
‭●‬ ‭Action‬‭: The process performed in response to the event.‬
‭●‬ ‭Response‬‭: The output or result of the action.‬
‭●‬ ‭Destination‬‭: The recipient of the response.‬
‭Example‬‭:‬

‭Event‬ ‭Trigger‬ ‭Sourc‬ ‭Action‬ ‭Response‬ ‭Destinatio‬

‭e‬ ‭n‬

‭User Login‬ L
‭ ogin‬ ‭User‬ ‭ alidate‬
V ‭ uccess or‬
S ‭ ser‬
U
‭credentials‬ ‭credentials‬ ‭failure‬ ‭Interface‬

‭ rder‬
O ‭ ubmit‬
S ‭ usto‬
C ‭ rocess‬
P ‭ rder‬
O ‭ ustomer‬
C
‭Placement‬ ‭order‬ ‭mer‬ ‭payment‬ ‭confirmation‬ ‭Email‬

‭Uses‬‭:‬

‭‬ C
● ‭ aptures system behavior in response to real-world events.‬
‭●‬ ‭Ensures completeness by listing all relevant events.‬
‭●‬ ‭Useful in event-driven systems like online booking or IoT applications.‬

‭3. State Transition Tables‬

‭ efinition‬‭: A state transition table models the behavior‬‭of a system in terms‬

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‭of states, events, and transitions. It defines how a system transitions from one‬
‭state to another based on specific events or conditions.‬

‭Structure‬‭:‬

‭‬
● ‭ urrent State‬‭: The system's state before the event‬‭occurs.‬
C
‭●‬ ‭Event‬‭: The input or trigger causing a transition.‬
‭●‬ ‭Next State‬‭: The system's state after the transition.‬
‭●‬ ‭Action‬‭: The process or response performed during the‬‭transition.‬

‭Example‬‭:‬

‭Current‬ ‭Event‬ ‭ ext‬

N ‭Action‬
‭State‬ ‭State‬

‭Logged Out‬ L
‭ ogin‬ ‭Logged In‬ D
‭ isplay‬
‭Success‬ ‭Dashboard‬

‭Logged In‬ ‭Logout‬ ‭ ogged‬

L ‭End Session‬
‭Out‬
 ‭Logged In‬ ‭Timeout‬ ‭ ogged‬
L ‭Save Progress‬
‭Out‬

‭Uses‬‭:‬

‭●‬ M ‭ odels systems with discrete states, such as login/logout systems or‬
‭vending machines.‬
‭●‬ ‭Provides clarity in understanding state-dependent behavior.‬
‭●‬ ‭Useful in designing finite state machines.‬

‭4. Petri Nets‬

‭ efinition‬‭: A Petri net is a graphical and mathematical modeling tool used to‬
D
‭describe and analyze the behavior of distributed systems. It represents‬
‭processes in terms of states, transitions, and tokens.‬

‭Components‬‭:‬

‭‬ P
● ‭ laces (Circles)‬‭: Represent states or conditions.‬
‭●‬ ‭Transitions (Rectangles)‬‭: Represent actions or events‬‭that cause state‬
‭changes.‬
‭●‬ ‭Arcs (Arrows)‬‭: Connect places and transitions, showing‬‭the flow.‬
‭●‬ ‭Tokens (Dots)‬‭: Represent the presence of a condition‬‭or resource.‬

‭Example‬‭:‬

‭‬ P
● ‭ lace‬‭: "Payment Initiated".‬
‭●‬ ‭Transition‬‭: "Payment Approved".‬
‭●‬ ‭Token Movement‬‭: When the "Payment Approved" transition‬‭fires, a‬
‭token moves from "Payment Initiated" to "Payment Completed".‬

‭Uses‬‭:‬

‭●‬ M ‭ odels concurrent and asynchronous processes, such as workflow‬

‭management or communication protocols.‬
‭●‬ ‭Allows performance analysis and verification of system properties like‬
‭deadlock or reachability.‬