Which phase assesses user requirements to determine system functionality?

The phase that assesses user requirements to determine system functionality is the analysis phase. During this critical stage of the software development lifecycle, various methodologies and approaches are employed to gather and assess the needs and expectations of users and stakeholders. This involves detailed discussions, surveys, and requirements documentation, ensuring that the developers fully understand what users need the system to accomplish.

The analysis phase is foundational because it sets the direction for the entire project. By defining user requirements clearly, the team can create functional specifications that guide subsequent design and development efforts. This alignment with user needs helps prevent costly revisions later in the process.

In contrast, alpha testing is primarily focused on identifying bugs and issues in the software before it is released to a larger audience. User acceptance testing comes later in the lifecycle, where end users validate whether the system meets their requirements based on the inputs from the analysis phase. Maintenance involves updates and fixes after the system has been deployed and is no longer focused on gathering initial requirements.