What is a key feature of the Waterfall Model?

The Waterfall Model is characterized by its clear and distinct phases, which include planning, requirements analysis, design, implementation, testing, and maintenance. Each of these phases follows a linear progression, meaning that the outcome of one phase serves as the input for the next. This structured approach emphasizes comprehensive documentation and upfront requirement gathering before moving on to implementation.

In the context of the Waterfall Model, the phrase "distinct phases of specification and development" is particularly relevant as it highlights the division between the initial gathering of requirements (specification) and the actual coding and integration (development). This separation allows teams to focus on one aspect at a time, promoting thoroughness and clarity before progressing to the next stage.

Other methodologies may incorporate aspects like simultaneous development and testing, which diverges from the linear nature of the Waterfall Model. Similarly, incremental customer feedback and a focus on rapid delivery are more aligned with agile methodologies, which prioritize flexibility and iterative progress over the rigid sequence of phases found in the Waterfall approach.