INVEST User Stories

INVEST is an acronym that represents six key attributes of a well-crafted user story. They are as follows:

• I - Independent: The story is designed to be as independent as possible from other stories, ensuring minimal dependencies.


• N - Negotiable: The story is presented as a problem to be solved rather than a rigid, detailed solution. It allows for flexibility and open discussion during implementation. The level of detail is sufficient for estimation purposes but avoids unnecessary specifics.


• V - Valuable: The story holds value for users or customers, addressing their needs, desires, or pain points.


• E - Estimable: The team possesses the ability and knowledge to estimate the effort required for the story accurately.


• S - Small: The story is deliberately kept small and manageable, ensuring it can be completed quickly as possible and certainly within a sprint or iteration.


• T - Testable: The story is constructed in a way that allows it to be effectively tested. It includes appropriate acceptance criteria and tests, enabling the team to determine when the coding is finished and the intended objectives of the story have been achieved.