What is the main benefit of using prototypes in systems design?

The main benefit of using prototypes in systems design is that they visually illustrate facets of the system before full development. Prototyping allows stakeholders, including users and developers, to interact with a preliminary version of the software, facilitating clearer communication and understanding of requirements. This early representation can reveal insights about user needs, interface design, and functionality, leading to valuable feedback that can guide the subsequent stages of development.

By creating a prototype, designers can experiment with different design ideas and functionalities, helping to identify issues and refine requirements before the final implementation begins. This approach reduces the risk of costly changes later in the development process and helps ensure that the final product aligns with user expectations and requirements.

The other options do not capture the essence of prototyping's primary advantage. For instance, finalizing the code early does not align with the iterative nature of prototyping, which is about exploring and testing ideas. Requiring complete documentation first contradicts the flexible, iterative approach of prototyping, and restricting user input would limit the very feedback that makes prototyping valuable.