A design specification (or product design specification) is a document which details exactly what criteria a product or a process should comply with.^[1] If the product or its design are being created on behalf of a customer, the specification should reflect the requirements of the customer or client.^[2] A design specification could, for example, include required dimensions, environmental factors, ergonomic factors, aesthetic factors, maintenance requirement, etc. It may also give specific examples of how the design should be executed, helping others work properly (a guideline for what the person should do).

This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (May 2017)

An example design specification, which may be a physical product, software, the construction of a building, or another type of output. Columns and information may be adjustable based on the output format.

Construction design specifications are referenced in US government procurement rules, where there is a requirement that an architect-engineer should specify using "the maximum practicable amount of recovered materials consistent with the performance requirements, availability, price reasonableness, and cost-effectiveness" in a construction design specification.^[3]

• Data sheet (Spec sheet)
• Design by contract
• Software requirements specification
• Specification