Requirements gathering is the process of understanding what you are trying to build and why you are building it. Requirements gathering is often regarded as a part of developing software applications or of cyber-physical systems like aircraft, spacecraft, and automobiles (where specifications cover both software and hardware). It can, however, be applied to any product or project, from designing a spaceship to building a patio deck.  

In this chapter, we look at:  

• Best practices for requirements gathering  
• Defining and implementing requirements baselines  
• Requirements gathering techniques for Agile teams  
• Requirements analysis