In the INVEST criteria, what does the "I" stand for in User Stories?

In the context of the INVEST criteria for User Stories, the "I" stands for Independent. This principle emphasizes that a User Story should be self-contained and not reliant on other stories for its implementation. By ensuring that User Stories are independent, teams can prioritize, plan, and execute work more flexibly and efficiently. When User Stories are independent, they can be developed in any sequence, which facilitates easier backlog management, continuous delivery, and reduces the complexity associated with dependencies between different parts of the project.

Being independent enhances collaboration within teams, as they can work on User Stories simultaneously without waiting for others to be completed. This independence supports Agile methodologies by allowing for iterative development and enabling teams to respond quickly to changes in requirements or priorities. Therefore, an independent User Story stands as a crucial element in successful Agile practices.