How are the product backlog and sprint backlog different?

Product backlog contains work for the product and sprint backlog contains work for the sprint.

The product backlog prioritizes the features needed in the product. It is a singular visible source of requirements for the product.

The sprint backlog represents the work to do in a given sprint. It is a definitive list of all the scrum team is being asked to produce for the sprint. 

Learn more about the sprint backlog vs product backlog in Scrum.

This question comes from the FAQ section of the Everyday Scrum guide.

Related FAQs

Scrum backlog

What is the backlog in Scrum?

There are actually two backlogs, the product backlog and the sprint backlog. They each contain the definitive list of work to be done. The product owner keeps the backlog ordered by priority. 

Learn to use the backlog in Scrum and check out the sprint backlog vs product backlog in Scrum.

How are the product backlog and sprint backlog different?

The product backlog prioritizes the features needed in the product. It is a singular visible source of requirements for the product.

The sprint backlog represents the work to do in a given sprint. It is a definitive list of all the scrum team is being asked to produce for the sprint. 

Learn more about the sprint backlog vs product backlog in Scrum.

What is a PBI (product backlog item)?

Each item in the backlog represents precise work and value to deliver. Often these PBIs are written using both user stories and acceptance criteria. The PBIs are what gets refined during the backlog refinement session, and if one is too large, it may be broken down into smaller PBIs.

Learn more about how backlogs are used in scrum, the sprint backlog vs product backlog in Scrum and explore the essential Scrum glossary.

Related Posts

A Tale of Two Roles: Product Owner vs. Scrum Master
Scrum Marketing
A Guide to Agile Writing
How to use Scrum to get your home projects DONE.
3 Takeaways After Writing a 6,000 Word Scrum FAQs
How can I use Scrum to manage my personal or professional development?
Agile Homeschooling
Is Scrum a methodology or a framework?
Scrum glossary and terminology cheat sheet
Learn how to apply Scrum to any type of work.
Freedom and Flexibility
Scrum vs. Agile.
A How to Guide for Writing Acceptance Criteria with Examples
What is a Scrum Development Team?
The role of the sprint goal in Scrum
How do I keep my team focused on the right work?
Getting work done as a team.
How a Scrum backlog increases team effectiveness
What is a sprint in Scrum?
What's the difference between incremental and iterative development?
How To Align The Scrum Values With Your Organizational Culture
Why does Scrum have so many meetings?
Can the Scrum Master and Product Owner be the same person?
Learn to forecast progress in Scrum
How to use story points in Scrum?
Learn to write user stories in Scrum
What is the definition of done in Scrum?
What is a product owner?
What is a Scrum Master?
What are the roles in Scrum?
How is a scrum master different than a project manager?
What if I don't have all the roles in Scrum?
Who attends each Scrum meeting?
What is a sprint review in Scrum?
How to do sprint planning in Scrum?
How does backlog refinement work in Scrum?
Keep your team in sync with a daily standup in Scrum.
How to conduct a retrospective in Scrum?
Scrum: expectations vs. reality
Is Scrum hard to learn?
What are the pros & cons of scrum?
What is the definition of Scrum?
Why use Scrum?