Businesses use different terms when discussing requirements for their products. Two of the most commonly used are user stories and use cases. But what’s the difference between them? And which one should you be using in your business? In this blog post, we will discuss the differences between user stories and use cases and give examples of each. Once you understand the differences, you can decide which is best for your business!
What are user stories?
User stories are high-level descriptions of a feature you will add to a product. They are generally written from the perspective of the user. For example, “As a user, I want to be able to search for products on the website.” you can further break down user stories into more detailed requirements, but they should always remain high-level.
What are use cases?
Use cases are a requirement that focuses on describing the steps you need to take to complete a task. They are generally written from the perspective of the system. For example, “The system shall allow the user to search for products by name, category, or price.” You can further break down use cases into more detailed requirements, but they should always focus on the steps you need to take.
The difference between user stories and use cases
User stories are high-level descriptions of a feature from the user’s perspective. Use cases are a requirement that describes the steps you need to take to complete a task from the system’s perspective.
How to write user stories:
User stories are one of the main tools that product managers and agile development teams use to capture the functionality they want to build into a new product or feature. A user story is a very high-level definition of a requirement, containing just enough information so that the developers can reasonably estimate the effort to implement it.
User stories are written from the perspective of the user:
As a [type of user], I want to [perform some task] so that [I can achieve some goal].
For example:
- As a frequent flier, I want to be able to check-in online so that I don’t have to wait in line at the airport.
- As a potential customer, I want to see the reviews of a product before I buy it so that I can make an informed decision.
How to write use cases:
A use case describes how users will interact with a proposed system to achieve their goals. Each use case is represented by a sequence of simple steps called “use case scenarios.”
Use cases are written from the perspective of the system:
The [system] shall [perform some task] to [enable the user to achieve some goal].
For example:
- The check-in system shall allow the user to check-in online to save time.
- The product review system shall let the user see reviews before buying a product to make an informed decision.
When to use user stories vs when to employ use cases:
Use user stories when trying to capture high-level requirements for a product. They are also suitable for agile development teams who want to capture the functionality they need to build quickly. It is best to use use cases when you focus on the steps you need to take to complete a task.