User Story

A short, simple description of a feature told from the perspective of the person who needs it, typically following the format: 'As a [type of user], I want [some goal] so that [some reason].' User stories shift the conversation from technical implementation to user value. They are intentionally brief — detailed requirements live in acceptance criteria. Good user stories follow the INVEST criteria: Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, and Testable. During sprint planning, teams estimate user stories using story points and break them into technical tasks. A well-written user story enables meaningful planning poker discussions.