Why is SRS also known as the blackbox specification of system ?Ans: SRS document is a contract between the development team and the customer.Once the SRS document is approved by the customer, any subsequent controversies aresettled by referring the SRS document. The SRS document is known as black-boxspecification. Since the system is considered as a black box whose internal details arenot known and only its visible external (i.e. input/output) behaviour is documented.SRS document concentrates on what needs to be done and carefully avoids the solution(“how to do”) aspects. The SRS document serves as a contract between developmentteam and the customer. SRS should be carefully written. The requirements at the SRSstage are written using end-user terminology. If necessary later a formal requirementspecification may be developed from it.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Why is SRS also known as the Black Box Specification of a System?
Answer: The Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document is referred to as the black box specification because it describes the system’s functionality without exposing its internal workings. It focuses on what the system should do (input/output behavior) rather than how the system achieves those functionalities (implementation details). The SRS serves as a formal agreement between the development team and the customer, ensuring clarity and alignment on the system’s requirements.
Explanation
The term “black box” originates from the concept in systems engineering where a system is viewed purely based on its inputs and outputs, without delving into the internal mechanisms or design details. The SRS adopts this perspective because it captures the external behavior of the system in user-friendly terms, avoiding technical jargon or implementation specifics.
- Nature of the SRS Document:
The SRS defines what the system must do to meet user needs. It avoids specifying technical solutions or the “how-to” aspects of development. This separation allows developers to creatively devise efficient solutions without being constrained by pre-defined designs. - Contractual Role:
The SRS acts as a contract between the customer and the development team. Once approved, any disagreements or changes during development can be resolved by referring back to this document, ensuring both parties adhere to the agreed-upon requirements. - Importance of Writing in End-User Terms:
At the SRS stage, the requirements are documented using terminology that is understandable to the customer. This ensures that the customer can validate and approve the requirements accurately. Later, if needed, these requirements can be transformed into a more formal technical specification. - Benefits of the Black Box Approach:
- Encourages modularity by focusing on external behavior.
- Reduces ambiguities by clearly defining inputs, outputs, and constraints.
- Facilitates easier validation and verification by stakeholders.
By treating the system as a black box, the SRS ensures a clear, user-oriented focus on functionality while leaving design and implementation decisions to the development team.