An overview of functional requirements

Product managers often juggle numerous projects, which can become overwhelming without clear documentation, particularly of functional requirements. Functional requirements describe specific capabilities that developers must implement, focusing on user behavior under certain conditions. These requirements, documented in a Functional Requirements Document (FRD) or a Product Requirements Document (PRD), differ from business and user requirements, which address broader business needs and user objectives, respectively. Common functional requirements include authentication, data storage, UI/UX, system errors and logs, integration, transactions, and backup scenarios. Non-functional requirements, on the other hand, focus on usability, reliability, and scalability, ensuring the product works efficiently and reliably. Writing effective functional requirements involves clear, simple, and realistic documentation, ensuring each requirement addresses a single function and aligns with others for consistency. Verification of requirements is crucial, and collaboration among team members is essential in the requirements definition process. Tools like LogRocket can provide insights into user experiences, aiding in informed product development and design changes.