IB Computer Science Topic B1.1.1: Constructing a Problem Specification Key Definitions

A constraint is a restriction or boundary that limits what a solution can be, such as a budget, a deadline, the hardware already in place, or a policy set outside the project. A constraint rules design options out; it is not a target the solution is trying to reach.

Evaluation criteria are the measurable benchmarks, fixed before development starts, used to judge whether a finished solution has solved the problem it was built for. They usually cover effectiveness, efficiency, accuracy, usability and maintainability.

A problem specification is a written account of the problem a solution must solve, produced before any design or code exists. It sets out the problem statement, the constraints and limitations, the objectives and goals, the input and output specifications, and the evaluation criteria, so the finished solution can be checked against it.