What is a Definition of Done (DoD)?

The Definition of Done (DoD) is a formal description of the state a Product Backlog Item must reach to be considered complete. It creates a shared understanding of quality across the Scrum Team. A typical DoD might include: code is written and peer-reviewed, unit tests pass with ≥80% coverage, integration tests pass, documentation updated, security scan passed, code deployed to staging, product owner accepted. The DoD is created by the Scrum Team (if not specified by the organization) and is applied consistently to all increments. It evolves over time as the team's standards improve. DoD is different from Acceptance Criteria (which are item-specific conditions) — DoD applies universally to every item. If a Product Backlog Item does not meet the DoD, it cannot be included in the Sprint's Increment and returns to the Product Backlog. A strong DoD is the foundation of quality and trust in Scrum.