Specification Definition & Meaning | YourDictionary (2023)

FAQs

What is the definition of specification? ›

: a detailed precise presentation of something or of a plan or proposal for something. usually used in plural. : a statement of legal particulars (as of charges or of contract terms) also : a single item of such statement. : a written description of an invention for which a patent is sought.

As the word suggests, a specification contains specific information. For example, a door is not simply a door – it has a frame and furniture (hinges, handles, locksets) and can be made from a number of different materials.

Specifications communicate the information required to achieve a desired work result. There are four methods of specifying: performance, descriptive, reference standard, and proprietary.

a detailed description of how something should be done, made, etc.: All products are made exactly to the customer's specifications.

There are three primary types of specifications: proprietary, performance and prescriptive.

The purpose of a specification is to provide a description and statement of the requirements of a product, components of a product, the capability or performance of a product, and/or the service or work to be performed to create a product.

The four types of specifying are: descriptive, performance, reference standard, and proprietary. Proprietary specifying is when construction specifications indicate product requirements by naming specific manufacturers and, perhaps, products.

A good specification should do four things: (1) Identify minimum requirements, (2) allow for a competitive bid, (3) list reproducible test methods to be used in testing for compliance with specifications, and (4) provide for an equitable award at the lowest possible cost.

There are two ways to specify a product in a proprietary specification: closed or open.

What are requirements and specifications? ›

What is the difference between a “requirement” and a “specification”? The dictionary tells us that a requirement is something that is needed and that a specification is a precise description of an item.

Specifications are limited to a specific project or government agency. Standards are specifications that are recognized as the most practical and appropriate current solution, that is agreed upon by a recognized authority, for a recurring problem.

Specification is the skill of recording specific requirements about work you (or your client) want to be carried out. A construction specification is a well-structured, detailed description of the quality, standards, workmanship, materials, and completion of work to be done which evolves across a project.

Designers can choose from four specifying methods as described by CSI: descriptive, performance, reference standard, and proprietary.

Range is the most important specification of an instrument. It indicates the range of values which the instrument can measure.

(1) Every specification, whether provisional or complete, shall describe the invention and shall begin with a title sufficiently indicating the subject-matter to which the invention relates.

Specification by example (SBE) is a user-driven contextual approach to defining software requirements. SBE requires business stakeholders to provide realistic scenarios for how the software will be used and those examples are used to determine the scope of the project.

Who prepares specifications? ›

Typically, specs are prepared by the architect or designers. Generally, architects will delegate them but oftentimes project engineers will be involved due to their breadth of technical knowledge.

A performance specification defines the functional requirements for the item, the environment in which it must operate, and interface and interchangeability characteristics.

Performance specifications promote contractor innovation. The contractor assumes more performance risk. Contractors have the flexibility to select materials, techniques, and procedures to improve the quality or economy, or both, of the end product.

To effectively communicate requirements, specifications must be clear, concise, complete, correct, and consistent.

For specifications to be effective, they must be concise, clear, complete, correct, and consistent. These are referred to as “the Five C's”.

In the Data Protection Act 1998, the purpose-specification principle is the second Data Protection Principle, which states that 'Personal data shall be obtained only for one or more specified and lawful purposes, and shall not be further processed in any manner incompatible with that purpose or those purposes.

For example, the design specification could include required dimensions, environmental factors, ergonomic factors, aesthetic factors, maintenance that will be needed, etc. It may also give specific examples of how the design should be executed, helping others work properly (a guideline for what the person should do).

'"common specifications' [..] means a set of technical and/or clinical requirements, other than a standard, that provides a means of complying with the legal obligations applicable to a device, process or system."

Each specification section is divided into three parts. These parts are Part 1–General, Part 2–Products, and Part 3–Execution. Each part includes particular information about the subject of the section. These three parts are fixed in number and title and are included in all specification sections.

Specification writing has two principal objectives: to define the scope of work and to act as a set of instructions. Defining the scope of work is at the core of specification writing.

How do you write a good specification? ›

A product specification document, often referred to as a product “spec” is the document that tells the persons in the project (developers, programmers, writers, marketers) what the outcomes or deliverables will be. These deliverables include the program and user documents.

Requirement specification, also known as documentation, is a process of jotting down all the system and user requirements in the form of a document. These requirements must be clear, complete, comprehensive, and consistent. During the capturing activity, we gather all the requirements from various sources.

Flow charts and pseudocode are more structured formats that can more precisely express an algorithm, and are popular with computer scientists and programmers.

Method specifications (also called material and method specifications or prescriptive specifications) explicitly identify the materials and work methods or procedures a contractor should use to complete the work included in the contract.

According to the Dictionary of Architecture & Construction a specification is, “a written document describing in detail the scope of work, materials to be used, methods of installation, and quality of workmanship for a parcel of work to be placed under contract; usually utilized in conjunction with working (contract) ...

Q: What is a Work Specification? A: Simply stated, a Work Specification (or Work Spec) is a code for all of the work defined in the body of a particular Agreement or Contract Modification or Contract Addendum. Every report must have a Work Spec selected.

A rule specification is an asset that represents the data requirements of a business rule in logical form. A rule specification breaks down the logic in a business rule into the following tasks: Define the types of data that a business data set contains. Define a set of conditions that the business data must satisfy.

A specification, or spec, is one of the most business critical aspects when it comes to making products. Specifications dictate what's in the products we use, how they're produced, and essentially, whether or not the product will meet the needs of target consumers.

A job specification is the list of recommended qualities for a person to qualify for and succeed in a position. While the job description includes the title position, responsibilities and summary, the specification identifies the skills, traits, education and experience a candidate might need to qualify for that job.

What are common specifications? ›

'"common specifications' [..] means a set of technical and/or clinical requirements, other than a standard, that provides a means of complying with the legal obligations applicable to a device, process or system."

What is the difference between a “requirement” and a “specification”? The dictionary tells us that a requirement is something that is needed and that a specification is a precise description of an item.

A product specification document, often referred to as a product “spec” is the document that tells the persons in the project (developers, programmers, writers, marketers) what the outcomes or deliverables will be. These deliverables include the program and user documents.