What does a well-crafted user story typically include?

A well-crafted user story is an essential component of agile methodologies, particularly in understanding user needs and requirements in a concise format. The inclusion of a clear definition of acceptance criteria is vital because it outlines the conditions that must be met for the user story to be considered complete and satisfactory.

Acceptance criteria serve as a reference point for both the development team and stakeholders, ensuring that there is a mutual understanding of what "done" means for that particular story. By providing this clarity, acceptance criteria help to mitigate misunderstandings later in the process and guide testing efforts, ultimately leading to a result that meets user expectations.

In contrast, other elements such as budget estimations, timelines, technical specifications, or competitive analysis, while useful in other contexts, do not typically belong in a user story. User stories focus on the users' needs and the benefits derived from achieving those needs rather than the logistical or technical details that might be more appropriate for project planning or documentation.