How to write a user story

What is a User Story?

As a {user}

I Want {desirable feature}

So that {a reason}

User Story represents the conversation with a user for the desired feature or capability which will provide the value to the user post-implementation. User Stories shift focus from writing about the what is required to discussing on what is required.

A good user story or in fact a well-formed user story will follow the INVEST criteria.

Independent: We want to be able to develop in any sequence.

Negotiable: Avoid too much detail; keep them flexible so the team can adjust how much of the story to implement.

Valuable: Users or customers get some value from the story.

Estimatable: The team must be able to use them for planning.

Small: Large stories are harder to estimate and plan. By the time of iteration planning, the story should be able to be

designed, coded, and tested within the iteration.

Testable: Document acceptance criteria, or the definition of done for the story, which leads to test cases.