Use Case vs User Story: Everything You Need to Know

The most frequently asked question and confusing concept among the agile development team are “what is the difference between use case and user story?” because both serve the same purpose. The answer is that their approaches to the goal are distinct. Both use cases and user stories are frequently used in agile software development. Many organizations favor certifications that align with the KnowledgeHut Agile courses when hiring project managers just to make sure that they are aware of the difference between use cases vs user stories. Let's compare use cases vs user stories by looking at each definition, similarities as well as difference between user stories and use cases with examples and applications for each.  

Use Case vs User Story: A Detailed Comparison  

Getting to the crucial question, "How are user stories different from use cases?" Obtaining agile certification is encouraged to develop knowledge in understanding use cases vs user stories, which is easy to achieve with proper guidance. 

The following table can assist us in understanding how our user stories are different than use cases: 

Parameters	User Story	Use Case
Descriptions	The user story contains simplified and short descriptions.	A use case contains complete and lengthy descriptions.
Purpose	It is used to capture the requirements of a project in a simpler and more concise way.	It is designed to provide a detailed description of how a system should work.
Ease of Use	Users may read user stories with ease.	Describes in detail the interaction between users and the system.
Type of Interaction	It provides a single description.	It contains the sequence of interactions.
Management	It is manageable in one sprint.	It spans many sprints.
Time requirement	It is typically written in one or two sentences and is easy to read and understand.	It is usually much longer than User Stories, as they provide a more detailed description of how a system should work.

Use Case vs User Story 

The following parameters are thoroughly investigated to know how are user stories different from use cases. 

1.Use Case vs User Story: Description 

A user story and use case are both software development models to describe a user's interaction with the system. Each model is unique and serves a different purpose, though both are used to define user requirements and can be used for verification and validation of the system. 

A use case is a detailed, step-by-step description of how a user will interact with the system. It describes the flow of events that a user will experience when performing a task with the system. A use case should include a list of actors involved, their goals, the steps they take to achieve their goals, the scenarios they may encounter, and any alternative scenarios they may face. Use cases are written from the user's point of view, with the user's goals and objectives in mind. 

A user story is a brief statement describing a feature from an end user's perspective. It is used to capture a user's needs and requirements. The standard format for user stories is "As a [role], I desire [objective] so that [benefit]." As a customer, I want to be able to order products online so that I can comfortably buy from home, for instance. User stories are high-level and often used early in the software development process. 

2. Use Case vs User Story: Purpose  

The next difference between use case and user story is the purpose to help provide guidance to software development teams and to help ensure that the product meets the user's needs. Both are ways of looking at the user's needs and the software system being developed. 
Use case story is a structured way of capturing the requirements for a system by analyzing how the user interacts with the system to achieve a goal. A use case is a set of scenarios that describes how the user interacts with the system. It is written from the point of view of the end user and is a narrative that details how the user will interact with the system. Use cases are typically written in natural language and are used to help define the system requirements. 

On the other hand, user stories capture the user's requirements from a more general perspective. They are typically used in an iterative development process, such as agile software development, where the user's needs are broken down into individual stories that are addressed one at a time. 

3. Use Case vs User Story: Ease of Use 

Use cases represent the steps a user would take to achieve a specific goal. They are usually represented in a "flowchart" style diagram that helps to visualize the process. The main purpose of a use case is to provide the developers with a clear understanding of the system's functionalities to build it more effectively. Use cases look at the system from the outside and focus on what the user does rather than the code that powers it. 

User stories are more focused on the user's experience. They are written from the user's perspective and describe the specific goals the user is trying to achieve. User stories are typically written in plain language. 

4. Use Case vs User Story: Type of Interaction 

A use case is an approach used to create a list of user interactions with a system. It describes a sequence of actions a system performs in response to an event, such as a user request. A use case is a written document that outlines the requirements of a system and the different scenarios a user might encounter. It can be used to define the functionality of a system, as well as to determine how it responds to various types of requests. It is often used to ensure that a system is easy to use and can handle multiple types of user interactions. 

A user story is a tool that is used in agile development in order to capture a description of a software feature from an end-user perspective. It is often written in simple language so that non-technical stakeholders can understand the requirements and provide feedback. The type of interaction associated with a user story is typically determined by the nature of the feature. Interaction can be divided into two broad categories—human-computer interaction (HCI) and computer-computer interaction (CCI). 

5. Use Case vs User Story: Management 

Use case management is a process used by businesses to identify, prioritize, and resolve any problems that a customer may have. It is designed to ensure that customers receive the best possible service and can be used to improve customer loyalty, engagement, and satisfaction. Use cases are used to identify the different tasks and criteria to achieve a particular goal. Use Cases are useful for management as they are a great way for managers to define user requirements and expectations.  
Use Case examples agile is also used to analyze user behaviors and identify areas where further development is needed. User story management is the practice of creating, tracking, and organizing user stories. User stories are descriptions of desired features, functions, or improvements to a product or system.  

In the Agile software development methodology, user stories are used to define and prioritize features and other requirements. User story management typically involves gathering, organizing, and ranking user stories and then managing the ongoing development process. It requires a collaborative effort between product managers, designers, developers, and other stakeholders. 

6. Use Case vs User Story: Time Management  

A use case for time management can help provide structure and clarity to the process. A use case is a set of actions or steps to achieve a desired outcome. In the context of time management, a use case can guide how to be more efficient with our time. It can help to simplify the process by breaking it down into a series of smaller steps. 

When dealing with user stories, the first step is to break down the story into smaller, manageable tasks. By breaking down the user story into smaller tasks, estimating the time needed to complete the story will be easier. Estimating the time required to complete a user story is an important step in time management, as it helps ensure that the tasks are completed promptly. 

What is a Use Case? 

The first author to present an article on use cases was Ivar Jacobson, who did so in 1987. A use case is a collection of interactions that occur between a user and a system to accomplish an objective. In this context, the user is an actor, and the system is a piece of equipment or a device. The decision-maker, whether they be a person, a business, or a computer program, is known as the actor. We will go over the actor in greater detail below. 

The use case mostly uses the following three terms. Let’s understand them with an example: “A person orders goods through an e-commerce website, and the seller delivers them.” 

1. Actors

An actor is a character who interacts with a system to achieve a purpose. The term "actor" comes from the Unified Modeling Language. The actor need not always be a human; they could be any computer program, hardware system, software system, business, or organization. The secondary actor, who aids the system in achieving the aim of the primary actor, is another character to be aware of in a use case. In the above example, the human is the main actor making decisions. The e-commerce program also notifies the seller to package and send the order to the buyer, here seller is the secondary actor. 

2. Goal

The process's end result is a goal, which is selected by the user, the client, and occasionally even a piece of software. The use case's entire process is intended to achieve the desired result. 

In the preceding example, the actor (person) opted to purchase a product (goal), hence the goal is to purchase a thing. If the product is delivered, the aim has been met. 

3. System

A system is one that accepts instructions from the actor and then executes all actions necessary to achieve the actor's purpose. 

The e-commerce website is the system in the preceding example. Following receipt of the order, various procedures are taken, including advancing to payment, alerting the seller to pack the item and send it, tracking the order status for any delays, and ultimately delivering the product. 

Format or Template

Use cases can be written in the text in a variety of styles, including formal, informal, and Fowler styles. There is no standard way to create the content of a use case, and different styles work well in different instances, according to Martin Fowler. He provided the following basic and typical format: 

1. Title: “Goal established by the actor” 
2. Success scenario: "List of interactions or steps to attain a goal". In this context, "steps" refers to a straightforward textual description of user and system interactions. 
3. Extensions: "Departure from the primary success scenario's set of actions." If the aim is not achieved, more connections are made to conduct the necessary measures. 

What is a User Story?

Kent Beck first introduced user stories in the year 1997. User stories are written materials that describe a system's features from the viewpoint of the user or client. Post-it notes, computer software, and index cards are frequently used as writing surfaces. User stories are used in many agile techniques to describe and influence software development functionality.

Format or Template

User stories are written in several formats which are listed below: Let’s look at each of them. 

1. Five W’s concept: 

The five W’s are who, when, where, what, and why. This format of the user story is constructed by putting together user stories using the responses to a series of queries that pinpoint the specifics of the suggested product. 

“As a <Who>, I want to do <what> <where> <When> so I can accomplish <why>” 

2. Evil User Story 

This also goes by the name "abuse user story." To safeguard against hackers, this user narrative template was utilized to strengthen security for the software development application. It is written from the viewpoint of a hacker, assuming that cyberattack-related actions take place. 

“As a <anti nationalist>, I want to <copy the personal information> of voters to <demolish>government” 

3.Connextra Format: 

Connextra template is the most common and widely used template in the User story, Let’s understand this with below-stated format 

“ As a <actor>, i can do <ability>, so that <benefit received>” 

Use Case vs User Story: Similarities

User stories vs use cases: there are a few commonalities that are listed below, and these differences have caused misunderstanding about the difference between use cases and user stories. Let us look at them: 

1. The main similarity between the use case and user story is they both have a role and goal to accomplish. 
2. Both are written in everyday language that is straightforward and easy for users. 
3. Both ought to make it clearer to the reader what the software is intended to do. 
4. Use cases have comparable components with user stories, such as an actor, a sequence of occurrences, including subsequent conditions. 

Examples of User Story vs Use Case

The use case vs user story examples will help in understanding the usage of these techniques. These examples also help in understanding the use case user story differences. 

Example 1 

Title: “Passenger booking a railway ticket” 

Use case example: 

Actor	Passenger
System	1. Passenger opens a railway ticket booking application.
	2. Enters destination details
	3. Check suitable train timings.
	4. Selected the suitable train
	5. Enters personal details
	6. Selected payment option
	7. Credit card payment is done
	8. Downloaded the train ticket
Goal	Train ticket booked

User story example: 

1. The passenger opened a train ticket booking application so that he could start booking a train ticket. 
2. Passenger checked suitable train timings so that he can book an appropriate train. 
3. Passenger selected a credit card payment option so that he can make payment with a credit card. 
4. Passenger downloaded the train ticket so that he can print the ticket copy. 
5. Passenger printed the train ticket so that he can travel in the train with the ticket. 

Example 2 

Title: “A/C holder depositing cash in ADWM (Automated Deposit cum Withdrawal Machine)” 

Use case example: 

User / Actor	A/c holder
System	1. A/c holder visits nearby ADWM
	2. A/c holder selects cash deposit option on screen
	3. A/c holder deposits the cash in machine
	4. ADWM counts the cash deposited
	5. ADWM displays the amount deposited
	6. A/c holder enters his account number details
	7. A/c holder confirms details and presses enter button
	8. ADWM prints deposit slip
	9. A/c holder collects cash deposit slip
Goal	Cash deposited into bank account

Possible extensions from step-4 to step-5. 

Step-4: ADWM counts the cash deposited 

1. ADWM rejects the damaged notes. 
2. Instructs the A/c holder to replace damaged notes. 
3. The A/c holder takes out the damaged notes. 
4. A/s holders deposit new cash in ADWM. 

Step-5: ADWM displays the amount deposited 

User story example 

1. The A/c holder visits the nearby ADW machine so that he can start depositing cash. 
2. The A/c holder selects the cash deposit option, so that machine opens the door to deposit 
3. ADW machine counts the amount deposited so that it can display the actual cash deposited. 
4. A/c holder enters his account number details, so that cash will be deposited in his account. 
5. ADW machine prints deposit slips, so that the account holder can get confirmation. 
6. A/c holder collects deposit slips so that he can leave the place with confirmation of accomplishment. 

The user story vs use case examples may be found in many daily tasks. There is a large curriculum to study and comprehend. 

Unleash your potential with project management professional training and soar to new career heights!

What Should You Choose Between the Use Case and User Story?  

The choice between the use case and the user story largely depends on the project and the stakeholders' requirements. Both use case user story have their strengths and weaknesses, and understanding when to choose one over the other is key to successful project management. 

When it comes to use cases, they are written in a more specific and detailed manner which can be used to document the requirements of a system. Use cases provide a detailed description of the system's interaction with users and the data it processes. They are usually used to define the scope of a project and the tasks that need to be completed for the project to be successful. 

On the other hand, user stories focus more on the user's perspective and provide a high-level overview of the requirements. They are more suitable for agile development, a method of project management that encourages collaboration, flexibility, and adaptability. User stories also enable stakeholders to prioritize features and tasks based on user goals. 

When to Use a User Story vs Use Case?

In product development, the user journey vs use case is extensively utilized, mostly in agile development approaches. Let's discuss their other uses: 

Use case

1. Use cases are utilized for the description of the software requirements specification (SRS), which serves as an alternate framework for the functional requirements. 
2. Used for utilizing the entity-control-boundary method to derive the design from the requirements. 
3. Utilized as a behavioral modeling tool in the Unified Modeling Language (UML). 
4. Use case is utilized as the driving factor in Object Oriented Software Engineering (OOSE). 

User story

To begin customer-focused interactions, user stories are utilized before use cases. User stories provide an overview of potential software project features. 

In scrum, the product owner prioritizes user stories to identify those that are crucial to the system. Based on these discussions, user stories may be enhanced to provide more information. Notes, attachments, and acceptance requirements are examples of this. 

Engage with the top trending Agile Category Courses

CSM Certification	CSPO Certification	Leading SAFe Certification
PSM Certification	SAFe Scrum Master Certification	SAFe SPC Certification
SAFe RTE Certification	SAFe POPM Certification	ICP-ACC Certification

Conclusion

We have seen the use case and user story differences with individual definitions and also with suitable examples. Once you understand the topic “difference use case and user story”, you can begin to determine what function they can play in your project which helps in using both concepts appropriately in your projects.