SRS, FRS, And BRS In Software Testing | TestFort Blog (2024)

by Anna Khrupa on 11/1/2019

Professionals working in software development and testing have to deal with specific kinds of requirement specifications when tackling a new product. Accurate and clear requirements are needed for a software development team to work on the creation of the right product, and this documentation makes the overall development process easier.

There are different types of requirement specifications, but right now, we are going to describe three main document types that are used specifically in software testing. These are SRS (software requirement specification), FRS (functional requirement specification) and BRS (business requirement specification). It’s worth noting that all these documents are used depending on the company type, standards and process organization. Down below, we will tell you more about each of these documents and explain the main difference between FRS and SRS documents and the difference between BRS and FRS in software testing.

What Is SRS Document?

SRS or Software Requirement Specification is a document prepared by a team of system analysts that is used to describe software that will be developed, the main business purpose and functionality of a certain product and ways how it performs its core functions. An SRS is a basis for any project as it consists of a framework that will be followed by each team member. An SRS is also a base of a contract with stakeholders (users/clients) that includes all the details about the functionality of the future product and how it is supposed to run. An SRS is used widely by software developers during the process of product or program development.

An SRS includes both functional and non-functional requirements and use cases as well. A perfect SRS document takes into account not just the way software will interact with other software or when it’s embedded in hardware but also potential users and the ways they will interact with the software. It also contains references to tables and diagrams to get a clear understanding of all product-related details.

An SRS document helps team members from different departments stay on the same page and make sure all the requirements are fulfilled. This document also allows minimizing software development expenses and time.

How to create a Software Requirement Specification

SRS full form in testing is one of the central documents in the process of QA and something software developers and testing engineers refer to multiple times in the course of a project. Here are the steps you need to follow to create a solid SRS document:

1. Create an outline or use a ready-made template to highlight the purpose of the document.
2. Talk about the product’s purpose, including its target audience, intended uses, and product scope.
3. Define the product that is intended to be built; this includes user needs, assumptions, and dependencies.
4. Talk about the specific functional and non-functional requirements, external interface specifications, and system requirements.
5. Submit the document to the project stakeholders and get their approval.

What Is BRS Document?

So what is BRS meaning in software testing? BRS stands for a business requirement specification which is aimed to show how to meet the business requirements on a broader level. A BRS document is one of the most widely accepted specification documents. It’s quite essential, and a BRS is usually created at the very beginning of the product’s life cycle and describes the core product goals or needs client is willing to achieve with certain software or product. This one is usually created by a business analyst based on other stakeholders specifications and after a thorough analysis of the client company. Usually, the final version of the document is reviewed by the client to make sure that all business stakeholders’ expectations are correct.

A BRS includes all the requirements requested by a client. Generally, it consists of the product’s purpose, users, the overall scope of work, all listed features and functions, usability and performance requirements. In this type of document use cases are not included, as well as diagrams and tables. A BRS is used mainly by upper and middle management, product’s investors, business analysts.

How to create a Business Requirement Specification

BRS in software testing is just as important as SRS and FRS, albeit from a different perspective, as it covers the most crucial business aspects of a software product. Here is how to write a concise BRS full form in software testing:

1. Put the executive summary in the beginning, so that readers can easily grasp the main ideas.
2. Describe the background of the project and its importance with those who don’t understand it yet in mind.
3. Talk in great detail about the business requirements of the project.
4. List the key project stakeholders with their roles and responsibilities throughout the project.
5. Define the scope of work and the project limitations.
6. Create a realistic timeline for the main project milestones.
7. Briefly include a cost-benefit analysis.

What Is FRS Document?

The last but not the least is the FRS document. Let’s dig deeper into what is FRS in software testing. An FRS or functional requirement specification is the document that describes all the functions that software or product has to perform. In fact, it’s a step-by-step sequence of all operations required to develop a product from very start to end. An FRS explains the details of how certain software components will behave during user interaction. This document is created by qualified software developers and engineers, and it is considered the result of close collaboration between testers and developers. The main difference, when compared to the SRS document, is that the FRS does not include use cases. It might also contain diagrams and tables, but this is not obligatory.

This one is the most detailed document as it explains in-depth how the software is expected to function (including business aspects, compliance, security requirements) as it also has to satisfy all the requirements mentioned in both the SRS and BRS documents. An FRS helps developers to understand what product they are supposed to create, and software testers get a better understanding of different test cases and scenarios in which the product is expected to be tested.

How to prepare a Functional Requirement Specification

Along with BRS and SRS, FRS is a mainstay of the software development and testing life cycle, so it’s important to know how to do it the right way. Here is what your FRS document full form needs to contain:

• Introduction (including project scope and references)
• General description (including product vision, assumptions, and limitations)
• Specific requirements (including system attributes and database requirements)
• Detailed use cases in text or diagram format
• User stories
• Work Breakdown Structures or functional decomposition of the software
• Software and design documents and prototypes

Bottom line

All three types of QA documentation — SRS, FRS, and BRS in software testing — are integral aspects of an effective and sustainable software testing process. If your company frequently tests software products, whether using its own resources or in collaboration with technical partners, FRS, SRS, and BRS should become a regular part of your quality assurance routine.