Artifacts and Commitments
Scrum's three artifacts represent work or value and are designed to maximize transparency. This chapter covers the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog and Increment, each with its commitment.
Product Backlog and the Product Goal
The Product Backlog is the single, ordered source of what is needed to improve the product. Its commitment is the Product Goal, a long-term objective the Scrum Team plans against; the team fulfils or abandons one Product Goal before taking on the next.
Sprint Backlog and the Sprint Goal
The Sprint Backlog is the Developers' plan for the Sprint: the Sprint Goal (why), the selected Product Backlog items (what) and an actionable plan (how). It belongs to the Developers, who update it throughout the Sprint as they learn.
Increment and the Definition of Done
An Increment is a concrete, usable stepping stone toward the Product Goal. Its commitment is the Definition of Done: work only counts as part of the Increment when it meets that quality standard, which creates transparency about completeness.