Quick definition: A development cycle, typically 2 weeks long, with fixed scope. The basic unit of the Scrum methodology.
What a sprint is — and isn't
A sprint is the work package the team commits to delivering within a specific time interval (typically 1–4 weeks, most commonly 2).
Scope is set before the sprint begins: which items go in, who does what, what will be ready when. Once the sprint starts, the scope is locked — no new work is added.
Sprint events
Sprint Planning — Scoping meeting at the start of the sprint.
Daily Stand-up — 15 minutes every day, team status.
Sprint Review — Demo of what was done, at the end of the sprint.
Sprint Retrospective — What went well, what went poorly, how to improve next time.
Sprint metrics
Velocity: Work completed per sprint (in story points).
Burndown: A daily chart of remaining work over the sprint.
Completion rate: How much of the planned work was completed.