what is spec

"Spec" is short for "specification," which is a detailed description or set of documented requirements that define how something should be done, made, or the criteria it must meet. Specifications can apply to materials, designs, products, or services and are often used to guide production, ensure quality, and establish standards. In technical contexts, specs may refer to performance measures, design criteria, or documented standards that a product or system must satisfy. For example, a "spec sheet" provides the technical characteristics of a product, while a "requirement specification" documents what the product or service must fulfill. Additionally, "spec" can also mean doing or planning something according to such specifications, or in informal use, it may refer to building something "on spec" (on speculation), meaning without having a definite buyer but hoping to find one later. In computing, SPEC (Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation) is an organization that creates standardized benchmarks to evaluate the performance of computer systems. So, generally, "spec" means a detailed set of instructions, standards, or requirements defining the attributes or performance of something.