What is the difference between use case and user story?

Question

Accepted Answer

**Use case** — detailed scenario. **User story** — short feature description.

**Use case:**
- Detailed description with steps.
- Includes preconditions and postconditions.
- Main flow and alternative flows.
- More formal and comprehensive.

```
Use Case: Place Order
Precondition: User is logged in
Main Flow:
1. User adds items to cart
2. User proceeds to checkout
3. System validates payment
Postcondition: Order is confirmed
```

**User story:**
- Short, simple description.
- Format: As a... I want... So that...
- Less detailed, more agile.

```
User Story:
"As a customer, I want to save items to a wishlist
so that I can purchase them later"
```

**Key differences:**
- **Use case** — detailed, formal.
- **User story** — brief, agile.

Business Analyst: What is the difference between use case and user story?