Creating a high-quality, functional website — a process that requires clear organization and understanding of the tasks. A technical specification (TS) for website development is a document that describes all project requirements and parameters, making it understandable for both the client and the contractor. A well-written TS helps avoid misunderstandings, errors, and delays, ensuring deadlines and budget are met.
What is a technical specification for website development?
A technical specification for website development is a detailed description of all aspects of the future project. The TS lists the site’s goals, structure, functional and technical requirements, design, and user interaction features. This document becomes a roadmap for the team, helping to bring the project to life as the client expects.
Why is a technical specification needed?
The technical specification for website development is the foundation for successful project delivery. It serves several important functions:
- Clear understanding of the objectives: Allows the client and the contractor to agree on the final result.
- Risk reduction: Minimizes the chance of misunderstandings and errors during development.
- Control over timelines and budget: The TS enables an accurate assessment of the workload and deadlines, and fixes the project budget.
- Basis for testing: The TS serves as a basis for verifying the completed site: functionality and design should match the parameters specified in the document.
How to write a technical specification for website development: key parameters
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General project information
This section includes general information about the project: the site name, its type (informational, online store, blog, etc.), and the main goals and objectives. For example, the goal may be to increase sales, provide information, or improve customer engagement.
Example:
- Project name: "Example Company Website"
- Site type: corporate website
- Goal: increase brand awareness and the number of service inquiries
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Target audience
Describing the target audience helps designers and developers understand who will use the site. This section lists age, interests, region of residence, level of digital literacy, and other audience characteristics.
Example:
- Age: 25–45 years
- Gender: male and female
- Interests: business, investments, innovation
- Goals: quick access to information about the company’s products
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Site structure
This includes the description of the site’s structure and sections: "About", "Services", "Contacts", blog, "Testimonials" section, etc. Their hierarchy is also specified so developers and designers can create intuitive navigation.
Example:
- Home page
- "Services" section
- "About" section
- Blog
- "Contacts" section
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Functional requirements
This is one of the most important sections of the TS, where the site’s functions are described in detail. Interactive elements, forms, filters, site search, shopping cart (for online stores), etc. are taken into account. The more precisely the functions are described, the easier it is for developers to implement them in the final project.
Example:
- Contact form that sends notifications to email
- Site search
- User account with access to order history
- Online payment integration
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Design and UX/UI
This section describes the desired appearance of the site, its style, and interaction elements. If the company already has a corporate identity, colors, and fonts, they should be specified. It’s also important to state responsiveness requirements: the site should display correctly on various devices — from desktops to mobile phones.
Example:
- Style: minimalist with predominantly light tones
- Colors: use the company’s brand colors
- Fonts: Arial for body text, Roboto for headings
- Responsiveness: support for all mobile devices, tablets, and desktops
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Content and its specifics
Indicate who will provide the site content: the client or the contractor. Include descriptions of content types such as text, images, video, etc., as well as requirements for their volume and format.
Example:
- Blog articles: from the client
- Product photos: from the client
- Texts for "About" and "Services" pages: from the contractor
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SEO requirements
To make the site visible in search engines, plan SEO optimization in advance. This section can specify requirements for load speed, URL structure, metadata, image optimization, and keywords.
Example:
- Load speed: no more than 3 seconds
- SEO URL structure: readable URLs, e.g., site.com/uslugi
- Meta tags: unique title and description for each page
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Integrations and additional modules
If the site needs to be integrated with a CRM, payment systems, email marketing, or other external services, this must be specified in the TS. The more detailed the integrations, the faster developers can configure them.
Example:
- CRM integration to transfer data from the contact form
- Enable online payments via PayPal and Stripe
- Integration with an email service for automated mailings
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Technical requirements
This section may contain information about the server, programming language, database, and the content management system (CMS) to be used. If the site must comply with specific security standards, this should also be included in the TS.
Example:
- CMS: WordPress, OKAY
- Database: MySQL
- Protocol: HTTPS
- Data protection: password encryption, protection against SQL injections
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Development stages and timelines
It’s important to break the project into stages and specify the estimated timelines for each. This helps track progress and control the completion of all tasks.
Example:
- Analysis and planning: 2 weeks
- Design development: 3 weeks
- Markup and programming: 4 weeks
- Testing and launch: 2 weeks
- Completion criteria and testing
At the end of the TS, specify the criteria that will be used to verify the site’s readiness. These can include checks of functionality, load speed, responsive design, and content compliance.
Example:
- Check display on mobile devices and desktop computers
- Testing contact forms
- Check SEO settings and meta tags
- Page load speed no more than 3 seconds
Conclusion
The technical specification for website development is a detailed plan that helps turn the client’s ideas into a successful project. This document simplifies the development process and helps avoid mistakes, improving clarity of goals and tasks for all project participants.
