Glossary of Atlassian Terms
What is 'Backlog'?
Definition
A backlog is a prioritized list of work that a team plans to deliver in the future. In agile teams, it acts as the single source of truth for what’s coming next—features, fixes, improvements, and ideas that haven’t been started yet.
In Jira, the backlog helps teams refine work, estimate effort, and decide what’s ready for an upcoming sprint. Items move in and out of the backlog as priorities change, making it a living artifact rather than a static to-do list. A healthy backlog is clear, ordered, and regularly reviewed, giving teams confidence that they’re working on the most valuable things at the right time.
