In Agile methodologies, what is a user story?

A user story in Agile methodologies serves as a concise, informal, and high-level description of a software feature from the perspective of the end-user or customer. It typically outlines what the user wants to achieve and why, focusing on the value that the feature will bring to them. The structure of a user story often follows the format: "As a [type of user], I want [some goal] so that [some reason]." This helps convey user needs in a straightforward manner, which is essential for the iterative and flexible approach of Agile development, allowing teams to prioritize and deliver features based on user value.

The choice of a user story as a short description allows teams to maintain a focus on delivering working software frequently and involves users in the development process by emphasizing their needs and perspectives. This ensures that the final product aligns closely with what users actually want.