---
title: "Backlog"
description: "Refine stories and tasks, filter upcoming work, and prepare the next sprint."
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.heizen.work/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Backlog

The backlog is the holding area for delivery work that is not yet ready for the
active sprint. It is also where you refine stories before they are scheduled.

![Heizen Studio Backlog showing expandable task groups, story rows, sprint filtering, and the story detail panel.](/images/heizen-studio/backlog.png)

## Understand the hierarchy

The backlog groups work into tasks and their user stories. A story can remain
unassigned to a sprint, or be associated with an active or completed sprint.
Open a story to edit its detail without leaving the backlog. The story whose
panel is open is highlighted in the list. Creating a story from the backlog
opens its detail panel automatically.

## Find the work you need

- Use **Search tasks…** for a text search.
- Use the **Sprint** filter to include active sprints, completed sprints, or
  work with no sprint.
- Filter stories by assignee, creator, status, or priority.
- Expand or collapse task groups to focus on a slice of the backlog.
- Clear filters when an empty result is caused by the current view rather than
  missing data.

## Refine a story

Review the title, description, acceptance criteria, priority, estimate,
assignee, and target sprint. Add comments when a decision needs a
conversation rather than a silent edit.

## Move work into a sprint

Assign a ready story to a sprint from its detail panel or move it from the
backlog into the [Sprint Board](/studio/delivery/sprint-board). Add tasks when
the story is ready but the execution steps need to be distributed across the
team.

> **A healthy backlog is curated**
>
> Defer, delete, or split stale work. Keeping every idea at the same priority
> makes the sprint decision harder and weakens the signal in My Focus.

Source: https://docs.heizen.work/studio/delivery/backlog/index.mdx