If you’ve ever been in a project meeting where everyone thinks they’re on the same page, but halfway through you realize you’re building totally different things… you know why a PRD matters.
A Product Requirement Document isn’t just corporate paperwork. It’s your north star. Your blueprint. Your “project Google Maps” that tells the whole team where you’re going, why you’re going there, and what the road looks like.
Let’s break it down.
đź› Why a PRD is Important
Think of a PRD like your shopping list before going to the grocery store.
Without it:
- You’ll forget important things.
- You’ll pick random stuff because it “looks good”.
- You’ll go over budget. …and worst of all, you’ll come home and realize you still can’t cook dinner.
In the same way, without a PRD, your project risks:
- Scope creep (extra features sneak in)
- Miscommunication (design thinks one thing, dev builds another)
- Missed deadlines (because “we didn’t know we needed that”)
A good PRD saves time, reduces stress, and keeps the project moving in one clear direction.
✏️ How to Write a PRD (Step-by-Step)
1. Start with the “Why” — Problem Statement
Before you talk features, explain why this product or feature even exists.
Example:
“Users currently spend 10 minutes finding the settings page. This feature will make it accessible in 2 clicks.”
This keeps the team focused on solving the right problem, not just building for the sake of it.
2. Define the Goals — What Success Looks Like
Write down clear objectives:
- Reduce checkout drop-off by 20%
- Enable customers to track orders in real-time
- Launch within 6 weeks
Goals should be measurable so you can say “yes, we nailed it” or “no, we missed it”.
3. Describe the Solution — High-Level Features
List the key features without getting lost in technical details yet.
Example:
- Search bar at the top of the settings page
- Auto-suggestions as user types
- Mobile-friendly design
4. User Stories — Write from the User’s View
These help devs, designers, and testers stay human-focused.
Example:
“As a returning customer, I want to reorder past purchases with one click so I can save time.”
5. Technical Notes & Constraints
Here’s where you bring in reality checks:
- Works with existing backend API
- Must support iOS 15+
- Needs to load under 2 seconds
6. Timeline & Milestones
Break the project into chunks:
- Week 1–2: Design
- Week 3–4: Development
- Week 5: Testing
- Week 6: Launch
7. Acceptance Criteria
How do you know the feature is done and ready?
Example:
- Search works in < 500ms
- Suggestions match at least 80% of expected queries
- No critical bugs on mobile
🧰 Tools Professionals Use Daily for PRDs
You don’t need fancy tools, but the right ones make your life easier:
- Google Docs / Notion — Writing & sharing the PRD
- Figma — Linking designs directly inside the PRD
- Jira / Trello — Breaking PRD into tasks
- Slack — Quick clarifications & updates
- Miro / FigJam — Brainstorming before writing
đź’ˇ Pro Tips
- Keep it simple — A PRD should be clear enough for someone new to understand in 10 minutes.
- Link, don’t overload — Instead of dumping wireframes inside, link to the latest version in Figma.
- Update it as you go — PRDs aren’t stone tablets; if the plan changes, the PRD should too.
- Use plain language — Avoid over-technical jargon. Everyone from CEO to QA should “get it”.
🚀 Final Thought
A well-written PRD doesn’t just guide your project — it protects it.
It makes sure that when your designer, developer, tester, and even your boss look at the same document, they all see the same vision.
Think of it like a contract between ideas and execution.
Write it well, and your future self (and your team) will thank you.
written by - Dhiraj Arya (Developer)
Top comments (0)