Which of the following best represents the main objective of the Requirements Analysis phase in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDL

The Requirements Analysis phase is crucial in the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) as it sets the foundation for the entire development process. This phase involves gathering, analyzing, and documenting functional (e.g., features, behaviors) and non-functional (e.g., performance, security) requirements from stakeholders. Techniques such as interviews, surveys, and brainstorming sessions are used to ensure that all stakeholder needs are captured accurately. These requirements act as a baseline for design and testing. For instance, in developing a banking app, requirements like user authentication, transaction limits, and encryption are clearly defined in this phase to guide the rest of the project. If this phase is not executed properly, it can lead to costly changes later. Why Other Options Are Incorrect :

1. Designing the high-level architecture of the software : This task belongs to the Design phase, not the Requirements Analysis phase.
2. Writing code for the core functionality of the system : Coding is part of the Implementation phase and occurs after requirements are finalized.
3. Conducting user acceptance testing to validate requirements : This is part of the Testing phase and ensures the software meets user needs.
4. Monitoring and maintaining the software post-deployment : Maintenance is a part of the Post-production Maintenance phase, unrelated to requirements analysis.