[1] An SDD usually accompanies an architecture diagram with pointers to detailed feature specifications of smaller pieces of the design.
Practically, the description is required to coordinate a large team under a single vision, needs to be a stable reference, and outline all parts of the software and how they will work.
This blueprint for implementation forms the basis for all subsequent software engineering work.
"[4] The 2009 edition was a major revision to IEEE 1016-1998, elevating it from recommended practice to full standard.
This revision was modeled after IEEE Std 1471-2000, Recommended Practice for Architectural Description of Software-intensive Systems, extending the concepts of view, viewpoint, stakeholder, and concern from architecture description to support documentation of high-level and detailed design and construction of software.