Documenting Requirements with Use Cases

Introduction

Documenting requirements is a critical phase in the database design process. Use cases help capture functional requirements from the user's perspective, detailing how users will interact with the system.

Key Concepts

• Use Case: A description of a system’s behavior as it responds to a request from one of its stakeholders, usually a user.
• Actor: A user or another system that interacts with the application.
• System: The application or software being designed.

Steps to Document Use Cases

1. Identify the primary actors.
2. Define the use case name.
3. Describe the preconditions and postconditions.
4. Outline the main success scenario.
5. Document any alternative scenarios.

Example Use Case

Use Case: User Login
Actor: Registered User
Precondition: User has an existing account.
Postcondition: User is logged into the system.

Main Success Scenario:
1. User navigates to the login page.
2. User enters username and password.
3. System validates credentials.
4. User is redirected to the dashboard.
        

Best Practices

• Involve stakeholders during the documentation process.
• Review and update use cases regularly.
• Ensure that each use case is clear and unambiguous.

FAQ