Template Overview
This PRD template (product requirements document) covers everything from problem statement through to launch milestones. It is designed for software products and features, but works for any product development process. Before writing the PRD, start with a project brief to get alignment, then use this template for the detailed requirements.
Product Overview
High-level context for the product or feature
- Product / Feature Name: _________________________________
- Product Manager: _________________________________
- Engineering Lead: _________________________________
- Date: _____________ Version: _____________
- Status: [ ] Draft [ ] In Review [ ] Approved [ ] In Development
Problem Statement
What user problem or business need does this solve?
- User Problem: _________________________________
- Who is affected: _________________________________
- Current workaround (if any): _________________________________
- Business Impact of not solving: _________________________________
Goals & Success Metrics
What does success look like? Define measurable outcomes.
- Primary Goal: _________________________________
- Success Metric 1: _____________ Target: _____________
- Success Metric 2: _____________ Target: _____________
- Success Metric 3: _____________ Target: _____________
- Non-goals (what this will NOT do): _________________________________
User Stories
Who needs what, and why — in plain language
- User Story 1: As a [user type], I want [action] so that [benefit].
- User Story 2: As a [user type], I want [action] so that [benefit].
- User Story 3: As a [user type], I want [action] so that [benefit].
- User Story 4: As a [user type], I want [action] so that [benefit].
- Edge cases / exceptions: _________________________________
Functional Requirements
Specific behaviors and capabilities the product must have
- REQ-001: _________________________________ Priority: [ ] Must [ ] Should [ ] Nice
- REQ-002: _________________________________ Priority: [ ] Must [ ] Should [ ] Nice
- REQ-003: _________________________________ Priority: [ ] Must [ ] Should [ ] Nice
- REQ-004: _________________________________ Priority: [ ] Must [ ] Should [ ] Nice
- REQ-005: _________________________________ Priority: [ ] Must [ ] Should [ ] Nice
Non-Functional Requirements
Performance, security, accessibility, and compliance needs
- Performance: _________________________________
- Security / Privacy: _________________________________
- Accessibility: _________________________________
- Scalability: _________________________________
- Compliance / Legal: _________________________________
Design & UX Notes
Key UX decisions, wireframes, and design constraints
- Wireframe / Prototype link: _________________________________
- Key UX patterns to follow: _________________________________
- Accessibility requirements: _________________________________
- Design constraints: _________________________________
Technical Considerations
Architecture, dependencies, and technical constraints
- Tech stack / services involved: _________________________________
- API dependencies: _________________________________
- Data model changes: _________________________________
- Performance / scale requirements: _________________________________
- Security considerations: _________________________________
- Technical risks: _________________________________
Timeline & Milestones
Key dates from PRD approval through launch
- PRD Approval: _____________
- Design Complete: _____________
- Engineering Kickoff: _____________
- Alpha / Internal Build: _____________
- Beta / Testing: _____________
- Launch: _____________
Open Questions
Unresolved questions that need answers before or during development
- Question 1: _____________ Owner: _____________ By When: _____________
- Question 2: _____________ Owner: _____________ By When: _____________
- Question 3: _____________ Owner: _____________ By When: _____________
PRD Writing Tips
Separate What from How
A PRD defines what to build and why — not how to build it. Engineering owns the how. Mixing them leads to PRDs that are either too prescriptive or not actionable.
Write User Stories Before Requirements
User stories keep you grounded in user needs. Requirements written without user stories often solve the wrong problem.
Define Non-Goals Explicitly
What you will NOT build is as important as what you will. Non-goals prevent scope creep and clarify trade-offs.
Version Your PRD
Requirements change. Keep version history. Engineers need to know which version they are building against.
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