Scrum Artifacts

Scrum uses three artifacts to track work and progress. Each artifact gives the team and stakeholders clear visibility into the project.

Product Backlog

The product backlog lists every feature, fix, and idea the product might ever need. The product owner ranks items by priority, placing the most valuable items near the top. This list never truly finishes since new ideas keep getting added.

Sprint Backlog

The sprint backlog contains the specific items the team selected for the current sprint, along with the plan to deliver them. This list stays smaller and more focused than the product backlog.

Product Backlog (large, ongoing list)
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   (select top items)
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Sprint Backlog (small, focused list for this sprint)

Increment

The increment is the actual working piece of product created during a sprint. It combines all the work finished in the current sprint with everything completed in earlier sprints. An increment must reach a usable state, ready for release if the product owner chooses.

Layman's Example

Think about building a piece of furniture from a large parts catalog. The full catalog represents the product backlog. The specific parts you pull out to build one shelf this weekend represent the sprint backlog. The finished shelf you can actually use represents the increment.

Definition of Done

Teams agree on a definition of done, which lists the conditions an increment must meet before counting as complete. This might include passing all tests, getting a code review, and matching the design specification. The definition of done keeps quality consistent across every sprint.

Key Takeaway

The three Scrum artifacts work together to track planning and progress. The product backlog holds all future work, the sprint backlog holds current work, and the increment represents the finished result.