Glossary
What is Backlog?
The ordered list of all work that hasn't been picked up yet, kept prioritised so the next sprint always pulls from the top.
The backlog is the master list of every piece of work the team might do, ordered by priority. Items at the top are well-defined and ready to start; items at the bottom are vague ideas. A product manager or product owner keeps it groomed - adding new items, removing stale ones, breaking down large items into smaller ones (called 'refinement' or 'grooming').
When to use
Keep the top 2-3 sprints' worth of work well-defined. Don't try to estimate items 10 sprints out - they'll change. The backlog is a working document, not a fixed plan.
Related terms
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