Functional requirements differ by the feature and functions they describe. Be sure to consider the following types (or classifications) when defining functional requirements:
System workflows: These requirements encapsulate all the activities (e.g., processing, administration, configuration, etc.) that will need to be provided by the system.
Authentication: This group is about verifying the identity of a user before allowing access to the system, including entering usernames and passwords, biometric verification, or multifactor authentication.
Authorization Levels: These requirements aim to define and control the access levels of different users within a system. For example, an admin may have complete system access, while a regular user has limited access to certain features.
Data Processing: These requirements can include data entry, validation, storage, and retrieval.
User interface and user experience (UI/UX): These are the requirements related to the design and interaction elements of the system. Their goal is to ensure that it’s user-friendly and meets users’ needs.
Reporting: These requirements define generating reports, e.g., data sources, formats, etc.
System integration: These requirements describe how the system interacts and integrates with other systems or third-party services.
Transaction Handling: This group contains requirements for handling transactions. They are especially important in systems that deal with financial processes or require record-keeping of transactions.
Error Handling and Logging: These requirements specify how the system should handle errors and log them, e.g., defining error messages, troubleshooting steps, and maintaining logs for system activities.
Backup and Recovery: These are the requirements for data backup and system recovery processes, ensuring data integrity and system availability in case of failure.