Distinguishing timing in development

Requirements and specifications appear at different points in the product development process. Product requirements come first. They are written during the early planning and discovery stages to guide initial decisions about goals, scope, and priorities. At this point, teams define what problems the product should solve and what success will look like. The document remains flexible to adjust as new insights appear from research or user testing.

Product specifications follow once the requirements are validated and approved. They are created when the concept is ready to be built and tested. The specification document translates approved requirements into measurable, testable elements, such as design standards, performance limits, and compliance criteria. Understanding this sequence helps teams avoid premature detailing and ensures that technical work begins only after the vision and direction are clear.