Story Point
A relative unit some teams use to compare the effort complexity and uncertainty of backlog items.
Plain English
A way to size work relative to other work instead of predicting exact hours.
In context
Story points support team-local planning and become meaningful through shared reference items and observed delivery patterns.
Example
“The team sized the familiar change at two points and the uncertain migration at eight.”
When you'll hear this
- backlog refinement
- sprint planning
- capacity forecasting
Common misunderstanding
Story points are not hours and should not be used to compare individual productivity or different teams.
Also known as
story pointspoints
Commonly used by
Related terms
Updated: 2026-08-27
