In Scrum, an artifact refers to any tangible or visible work product that is produced during the course of a project. These artifacts are used to provide transparency, inspection, and adaptation throughout the Scrum process. The main artifacts in Scrum are:
1. Product Backlog: This is a prioritized list of all desired work on the project. It contains features, bug fixes, non-functional requirements, and other work items that need to be addressed. The Product Backlog is dynamic and evolves over time as new information emerges or priorities change.
2. Sprint Backlog: This is a subset of the Product Backlog items selected for a Sprint, along with a plan for delivering them. It is created during the Sprint Planning meeting and is owned by the Development Team. The Sprint Backlog is a forecast of the work that will be done during the Sprint.
3. Increment: The Increment is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint, plus the work done on previous Increments. It must be in a potentially releasable state, meaning it meets the Definition of Done and is of sufficient quality to be released to users or stakeholders.
4. Definition of Done: This is a shared understanding within the Scrum Team of what it means for a Product Backlog item to be considered complete. It typically includes criteria related to functionality, quality, testing, documentation, and any other relevant factors.
In a nutshell, these artifacts provide visibility into the progress of the project, facilitate collaboration and communication within the Scrum Team, and enable stakeholders to understand what is being worked on and when they can expect delivery.