Jira Glossary

Introduction

In the world of task management and issue tracking, exploring the domain of Jira terminology is essential for streamlined operations.

Dive into a comprehensive overview of key definitions crucial to task management, issue tracking, and project optimization within Jira software.

Jira Terms

A

Agile Board: A board that exhibits problems from one or more initiatives and serves as a tool for planning, monitoring, and controlling work in an Agile development project.

Attachment: An attachment that is linked to a specific issue within the JIRA platform.

B

Backlog: A backlog refers to a collection of unresolved user stories, bugs, and features that are associated with a particular product or sprint.

Board: AA graphical depiction of problems within a project or a group of projects.

Bug: A software malfunction or glitch that leads to unanticipated behavior.

Burndown Chart: A Burndown Chart illustrates the real and projected workload remaining in a sprint.

C

Control Chart: A Control Chart can display the duration or turnaround time for a product, version, or sprint.

Component: A subdivision within a project that corresponds to a distinct aspect of the project's functionality.

Custom Field: A custom field in JIRA that is generated by a user to record extra details about problems.

Cycle Time: The duration required to accomplish a process from inception to completion.

D

Daily stand-up: Commonly referred to as a daily scrum, a brief 15-minute meeting for the software team to synchronize.

Dashboard: A JIRA feature that offers a graphical representation of crucial metrics and data related to projects.

Dependency: A connection between at least two issues, where one issue relies on the completion of another.

Deployment: The act of deploying a software application for user access.

E

Epic: A sizable and intricate problem that is divided into smaller tasks or narratives for easier management.

Escalation: The act of elevating an issue to a higher priority level due to its pressing nature.

Event: A modification in the status of a problem, such as the establishment of a new issue or the resolution of an existing one.

F

Field: A data element in JIRA that holds details regarding an issue.

Filter: An inquiry that is employed to locate and exhibit a particular set of issues within JIRA.

Fix Version: The specific release of a software application where a bug has been rectified.

G

Generation: The act of generating new issues based on a predetermined set of guidelines.

Group: A group of JIRA users who share identical authorizations and obligations.

Grooming: The act of evaluating and revising the backlog of problems within a project.

H

Hook: A feature in JIRA that enables third-party add-ons to augment its capabilities.

Housekeeping: The act of managing and arranging issues and information within JIRA.

I

Issue: An issue in Jira is a distinct task that progresses through a workflow from inception to resolution. It can vary from a basic task or bug to a more comprehensive work item such as a story or epic that requires tracking.

Impact: The extent to which an issue impacts the functionality of a software application.

Impediment: A hindrance or impediment that obstructs the completion of an issue.

Indexing: The practice of arranging and storing information in JIRA to facilitate quick access and retrieval.

J

JQL (JIRA Query Language): A unique language utilized in JIRA for searching and displaying issues.

Job: An event that is executed automatically by JIRA at a designated time or frequency.

Journal: A record in JIRA that documents modifications made to an issue.

JSW: Jira Software (although most just call this Jira)

JSM: Jira Service Management

JWM: Jira Work Management

K

Kanban: Kanban is a method that visualizes work flow and sets limits on work in progress. Unlike the sprint-focused Scrum methodology, Kanban is continuous and not bound by sprint cycles.

Kanban Board: A board that showcases project issues and is employed to strategize, monitor, and oversee work within a Kanban development framework.

Key: An exclusive identifier within JIRA utilized for distinguishing a particular issue.

L

Label: A label in JIRA that serves to categorize and arrange issues.

Library: A set of reusable elements in JIRA that can be utilized in various projects or issues.

Life Cycle: The sequence of steps an issue undergoes from initiation to resolution.

Log Work: A capability in JIRA that enables users to record the duration spent working on an issue.

M

Milestone: A significant milestone in a project that signifies the accomplishment of a major deliverable.

Module: A distinct component in JIRA that embodies a particular feature of a project's functionality.

N

Notification: A message or notification delivered to a user when an event occurs in JIRA, such as the establishment of a new issue or the resolution of an existing one.

O

Object: An entity within JIRA, like an issue or a project.

Outgoing Mail: A message that is transmitted from JIRA to a user via email.

P

Parent Issue: A JIRA issue that has a connection to one or more subordinate issues.

Priority: The priority level allocated to an issue in JIRA, which influences its position in the backlog or queue.

Project: A grouping of issues, components, and additional resources in JIRA that symbolize a particular initiative or objective.

Q

Queue: A compilation of pending issues in JIRA awaiting resolution.

Query: A query in JIRA that is designed to locate issues that correspond to particular standards or specifications.

R

Release: A release of a software application that is accessible to users.

Resolution: The procedure of rectifying an issue in JIRA and designating it as resolved.

Resolver: A JIRA user who is assigned to address and resolve an issue.

S

Screen: A JIRA form utilized to gather details about an issue.

Screen Scheme: A series of JIRA screens that are employed for various categories of issues.

Search: A capability in JIRA that enables users to locate issues that correspond to particular standards or specifications.

Severity: The extent of influence an issue has on the operation of a software application.

Story: A unit of task in an Agile development process that represents a user's demand or necessity.

Scrum Board: A graphical depiction of the work in a Scrum development process that is utilized to monitor the advancement of sprints, stories, and tasks. A Scrum board in JIRA can display data about the status, priority, and responsible party for each story and task, and can be tailored to align with the team's workflow.

Scrum: Scrum is a methodology for Agile development that entails constructing a product through a series of time-bound iterations known as sprints. This approach provides a structure for teams to consistently deliver software.

Scrum of Scrums: Scrum of Scrums is a method for expanding Scrum to encompass extensive, multi-team projects. It serves as the Agile equivalent to the conventional concept of program management.

Sprint: A sprint, also referred to as an iteration, is a condensed duration, typically spanning two to four weeks, during which the development team executes and delivers a distinct product increment, such as a functional milestone version.

Sprint planning: A team meeting for planning that establishes the tasks to be accomplished in the forthcoming sprint.

Sprint retrospective: An assessment of what transpired effectively and ineffectively, accompanied by actions to enhance the subsequent sprint.

Story: A story or user story is a concise software system requirement articulated in brief sentences, preferably using layman's terms.

Story Point: A story point is a measure of the comparative complexity of a story.

Swimlane: A swimlane is a method for categorizing issues to enable agile teams to discern which issues they should prioritize next.

Sub-Task: A sub-task can be linked as a "child" to any issue type, based on the Issue Type Scheme of the project.

T

Task: A unit of task in JIRA that embodies a particular action or item that necessitates completion.

Time Tracking: The procedure of documenting and monitoring the time expended on an issue in JIRA.

Transition: The procedure of transitioning an issue from one status to another in JIRA.

U

User: An individual who employs JIRA to administer and monitor issues.

User Group: A group of JIRA users who share common authorizations and obligations.

V

Version: A version of a software application in JIRA.

View: A graphical depiction of JIRA issues, like a board, dashboard, or report.

Velocity: The velocity of a team refers to the amount of work it can manage in a given time frame, such as the completion of a product backlog within a sprint. This metric can be determined using story points, business value, hours, issue count, or any numerical field. Essentially, it quantifies the team's productivity.

W

Workflow: A series of stages in JIRA that outline the evolution of an issue, from its inception to its resolution.

Work Log: A documentation of the duration spent on an issue within JIRA. This resource facilitates a swift and thorough understanding of JIRA for new users, enabling them to utilize it efficiently.