What is the purpose of identifying Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs) during the design phase?

Identifying Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs) during the design phase is essential because it focuses on defining quality attributes that influence the overall system's performance and usability. NFRs encompass aspects such as performance, security, reliability, maintainability, availability, and scalability, which are critical for ensuring that the system meets user expectations and organizational goals.

By clearly outlining these requirements early in the design process, architects and developers can make informed decisions that affect system architecture, technology stack, and resource allocation. For instance, if security is a key NFR, specific strategies and technologies will need to be implemented to safeguard data and ensure compliance with regulations. Similarly, if scalability is prioritized, the architecture might be designed to allow for easy future enhancements and incremental load management, which impacts choices regarding cloud services or microservices.

This proactive identification of NFRs becomes a guiding framework throughout the development process, influencing design choices and testing strategies later on to ensure that the final product aligns with the expectations set out during the planning stages.