How does a user story differ from a story card?

A user story is a concise and informal description of a feature from the perspective of the user, usually formatted with a structure that includes the role of the user, what they want, and the reason for wanting it. This ensures that the user’s needs and context are considered in the development process. The key component of a user story is that it focuses on the value delivered to the end user.

In contrast, a story card serves as a tangible representation of the user story, often written on a physical card, which provides a visual and straightforward way to convey the information during agile ceremonies. While it may contain more detailed information, the essence of the story card is to help facilitate discussions rather than serve as a comprehensive documentation tool.

This distinction highlights that while a user story is an essential element in outlining user needs and justifications, the story card is a practical artifact used to represent that information and stimulate communication within the development team.