What does the backlog represent in an agile context?

In an agile context, the backlog serves as the prioritized list of work items that need to be addressed by the team. It includes tasks, features, bug fixes, and user stories that have been identified for future development. The backlog represents the work that has been defined but not yet started, acting as a dynamic inventory of pending tasks that can be prioritized in upcoming sprints or iterations.

The focus of the backlog is on what the team has agreed to work on next, ensuring there is a clear vision of what needs to be accomplished over time. This makes it instrumental in planning and prioritization, allowing teams to reflect on their objectives and adapt to changing requirements.

In contrast, options suggesting completed tasks or tasks currently in progress refer to different stages of the workflow that do not align with the purpose of the backlog. Resolved issues awaiting deployment also fall outside the concept of a backlog since they have already been addressed and are not part of the future work queue.