What three capabilities should a modeling tool possess for creating traceable models in requirements engineering?

The correct answer focuses on the importance of traceability in requirements engineering. For a modeling tool to support traceable models effectively, it is critical that every model element possesses a unique ID. Having an ID for each element ensures that each piece of the model can be distinctly identified and referenced throughout the project lifecycle. This capability allows for easy tracking of changes, relationships, and dependencies between different requirements and design components, which is essential for maintaining clarity and coherence as requirements evolve.

Traceability is a cornerstone of requirements engineering, as it enables stakeholders to verify the relationship between requirements and corresponding design elements, test cases, and implementation details. Without unique identifiers, it would be challenging to maintain clear links, making it harder to manage requirements and assess their impact on the overall system.

In contrast, while exporting to XML, utilizing hyperlinks, and conforming to UML definitions are useful features of a modeling tool, they do not directly ensure traceability as effectively as the requirement for unique IDs for model elements does. XML export supports data interchange, hyperlinks aid in navigation, and UML conformity ensures that the models are structurally sound, but none of these elements inherently provide the foundational traceability that unique identifiers do.