User story writing

User stories are a simple way to write requirements from the user’s point of view. The common format is: “As a [user type], I want [goal] so that [benefit].” This keeps the focus on what users needs and why they need it, not just on building features.

A good user story follows the INVEST rule. It should be:

• Independent: It shouldn’t depend on other stories to deliver value.
• Negotiable: The story can change as the team discusses details and learns more.
• Valuable: It must deliver clear value to the user or customer.
• Estimable: The team should be able to estimate the effort needed. I
• Small: A story should fit within a single iteration or sprint.
• Testable: You should be able to confirm whether it’s done through clear acceptance criteria that describe what should happen. For example, “The system sends a confirmation email after signup.”^[1]

User stories work best when they are small slices of real functionality. Slice work vertically — include all necessary parts (front end, back end, data) so the story can actually work. Avoid horizontal slicing, where only one layer (like just front end or just back end) is done, because that doesn’t create usable functionality.