Product Backlog

A prioritized queue of user-focused needs that the team owns and continually updates for the product.

Key Points

  • Single, authoritative source of upcoming product work.
  • Ordered by value, risk, and dependencies so the most important items appear first.
  • Continuously refined as feedback emerges; items gain detail, estimates, and acceptance criteria as they rise.
  • Product owner manages content and ordering; the delivery team collaborates to refine and estimate.

Example

A mobile banking team maintains a product backlog with items such as "As a customer, I want to deposit checks by photo so I can avoid visiting a branch." The product owner orders these items by value and risk. High-priority items near the top have clear acceptance criteria and estimates, making them ready for the next sprint.

PMP Example Question

A team wants a single, prioritized source of all user-centered requirements for a product that is updated continuously as feedback arrives. Which artifact should they use?

  1. Sprint backlog
  2. Product backlog
  3. Project management plan
  4. Release burndown chart

Correct Answer: B — Product backlog

Explanation: The product backlog is the prioritized, evolving list of user-focused work maintained for the product; the other options serve different purposes.

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