What is a prototype commonly used for in requirements elicitation?

A prototype serves as a tangible representation of system features, allowing stakeholders to interact with a preliminary version of the product. This hands-on experience is invaluable in requirements elicitation, as it fosters direct feedback from users regarding functionality, design, and usability. By observing how stakeholders engage with the prototype, analysts can gather insights that help validate or refine the requirements.

This iterative process enables a clearer understanding of user needs and expectations, ultimately leading to a more effective and targeted development process. Prototypes can also highlight any misunderstandings or assumptions that may exist, providing an invaluable feedback loop between stakeholders and the development team.

Utilizing prototypes in this way significantly enhances communication and collaboration, which are vital for successful requirements gathering. It is a fundamental practice in agile methodologies as well, where continuous feedback is essential to project success.