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ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148 Systems and Software Requirements Specification (SRS) Example Template

Below is a generic example of a Systems and Software Requirements Specification (SRS) template that follows much of the structure and guidance found in ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148 (“Systems and software engineering — Life cycle processes — Requirements engineering”).

Important Note:

  • This template is illustrative, not the full text of the standard.
  • The ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148 document is copyrighted and must be purchased or accessed through authorized channels for its official content.
  • This example provides a commonly used outline and highlights typical content areas recommended by the standard.

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

  • Briefly state the purpose of this SRS.
  • Identify the system or software product to be developed.

1.2 Scope

  • Describe the scope of the product or system.
  • Explain the boundaries of what will (and will not) be covered by this SRS.

1.3 Intended Audience and Document Use

  • Identify the stakeholders (e.g., developers, managers, testers, users).
  • Explain how each type of stakeholder should use this document.

1.4 References

  • List any external documents (standards, user manuals, related system documents) referenced.
  • Include version or publication information for each reference.

1.5 Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations

  • Provide definitions for domain-specific terms.
  • Expand any acronyms or abbreviations used within the document.

1.6 Document Overview

  • Summarize the structure of this document and its major sections.

2. Overall Description

2.1 System or Product Perspective

  • Describe the relationship of this product to other systems or products.
  • Include a context diagram if applicable.

2.2 System or Product Functions

  • Summarize the major functions the system or software will provide.
  • Provide a high-level functional decomposition (if known at this stage).

2.3 User Characteristics

  • Describe the key user roles, their expertise, and other relevant traits.

2.4 Constraints, Assumptions, and Dependencies

  • Outline any technical constraints (e.g., platforms, frameworks).
  • Document any assumptions about inputs, operations, or usage.
  • Note dependencies (e.g., on external systems, regulatory constraints).

2.5 Operational Environment

  • Describe the operating environment (hardware, OS, network, etc.).
  • Note relevant environmental conditions (e.g., real-time constraints, performance requirements).

3. Functional Requirements

(Often the largest section; can be organized by features, use cases, or both.)

For each major function or use case, include:

3.1 Functional Requirement Group or Feature Name

  • Description: A concise description of the functionality.
  • Inputs: Describe any inputs (data, events).
  • Processing: Describe how the system processes these inputs.
  • Outputs: What the system returns, displays, or outputs.
  • Associated Use Cases (optional): Reference any relevant use-case descriptions.
  • Constraints: Any unique constraints that apply only to this function.
  • Priority: Indicate the importance or urgency.
  • Traceability: Provide identifiers or links to higher-level requirements or design documents.

(Repeat this structure for each primary requirement, feature, or use-case set.)

4. Non-Functional Requirements

Non-functional requirements describe qualities or properties the system must have. Typically, they are categorized as follows:

4.1 Performance Requirements

  • Throughput, response time, scalability.

4.2 Safety and Security Requirements

  • Security controls, risk mitigation, data protection.

4.3 Reliability and Availability

  • Uptime requirements, fault-tolerance criteria, error handling.

4.4 Usability and Human Factors

  • User interface standards, accessibility requirements, usability goals.

4.5 Maintainability and Support

  • Coding standards, modularity, documentation, support processes.

4.6 Portability and Compatibility

  • Supported platforms, integration considerations with legacy systems.

4.7 Other Quality Attributes

  • Any other system “-ilities” (like interoperability, testability, reusability).

5. External Interface Requirements

5.1 User Interfaces

  • Describe graphical user interface (GUI) standards, screen layouts, or guidelines.
  • Indicate command-line usage (if applicable).

5.2 Hardware Interfaces

  • Define hardware interfaces such as sensors, specialized devices, or performance constraints.
  • Include diagrams or references to external hardware specs as needed.

5.3 Software Interfaces

  • Identify software-based interfaces, such as APIs, protocols, or libraries.
  • Clarify data exchange formats (JSON, XML, etc.).

5.4 Communications Interfaces

  • Describe network protocols used (HTTP, TCP/IP, etc.).
  • Note any bandwidth constraints, communication ports, or encryption requirements.

6. Other Requirements (Optional)

6.1 Legal or Regulatory Requirements

  • List relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, industry standards).
  • Describe how compliance will be assured.

6.2 Packaging, Installation, and Deployment

  • Include requirements for installation and deployment procedures.

6.3 Internationalization and Localization

  • Requirements for language support, date/time formats, cultural conventions.

6.4 Data Requirements

  • Data models, database constraints, data retention, and archiving.

(Any other unique requirements not covered above can go here.)

7. Verification and Validation

7.1 Requirements Verification Methods

  • Indicate how each requirement will be verified (e.g., inspection, test, demonstration, analysis).
  • Provide a requirements traceability matrix if desired.

7.2 Acceptance Criteria

  • Detail specific conditions or measurements required to accept the product as meeting the requirement.

8. Appendices

8.1 Appendix A: Glossary

  • Extended definitions of terms.

8.2 Appendix B: Use Cases / Scenarios

  • Additional use-case details or scenario walk-throughs.

8.3 Appendix C: Traceability Matrix

  • A table mapping requirements to design elements, test cases, etc.

8.4 Appendix D: Supporting Diagrams

  • Additional system diagrams, user interface mockups, or architectural models.

9. Index (Optional)

  • If the SRS is large, an index of key topics, terms, or requirements can be included.

Using This Template

  1. Tailor the sections to the complexity of your project. Not every section must be used verbatim.
  2. Provide clear and verifiable requirements (i.e., each requirement should be testable or demonstrable).
  3. Maintain a requirements traceability mechanism to ensure consistency from stakeholder needs to final implementation and test.
  4. Align this SRS with other life cycle documentation (e.g., design documents, test plans) for full coverage of the system.

Disclaimer

  • This example template is not a substitute for the full ISO/IEC/IEEE 29148 standard.
  • For detailed guidance, definitions, and compliance with the standard’s requirements engineering processes, refer to the official document or authorized summaries.
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