Meaning
An informal, natural-language description of a software feature written from the end-user's perspective.
Three examples from work
Story writing
POLet's formulate the user story clearly before adding technical details.
DevAgreed: 'As a shopper, I want to filter products by price to find deals quickly.'
Refinement
QAThis user story needs explicit acceptance criteria for edge cases.
POI'll update the story card with session timeout requirements.
Planning
LeadThis user story covers both mobile and desktop redesign; let's split it.
PMGood call, we'll deliver the desktop user story first.
Follow the classic formula: 'As a [role], I want [feature], so that [benefit]'. User stories keep the team focused on business value rather than just technical tasks.