Spezifik

Spezifik is a term used in technical documentation to denote a formal specification or set of requirements for a product, system, or project. The word is derived from the German Spezifikation, and in multilingual contexts it appears as Spezifik or in shortened forms. It is used across industries such as software, hardware, and manufacturing where precise, testable criteria are needed.

Origin and usage: Spezifik is not a universally standardized term but a shorthand found in manuals, project briefs, and product datasheets in European and international teams that incorporate German-influenced terminology. It can refer to the core document that enumerates functional requirements, interfaces, quality attributes, and constraints.

Structure: A Spezifik typically includes scope, objectives, stakeholders, functional requirements, non-functional requirements, interfaces, data formats, performance criteria, acceptance criteria, and traceability information. It often aligns with established standards for requirements engineering but remains a project-specific artifact.

Variants and terminology: Common variants include Spezifikation, Spezifik, or abbreviations like Spec. In some organizations, the term is used as a brand name for a template or software tool that manages specification documents.

Impact and reception: In practice, a clear Spezifik supports cross-team alignment, testing, and regulatory compliance, while ambiguity in specification can lead to scope creep or defects. Overall, Spezifik functions as a generic label for the formal documentation of what a system must do.