A user story is a short, simple description of a feature or requirement told from the perspective of the user. User stories are used in agile development methodologies as a way to capture the requirements for a new feature or piece of software. They are usually written in the format: "As a [type of user], I want [some goal] so that [some reason]." This format helps to clearly define who the user is, what they want to do, and why they want to do it. User stories are typically small and focused, and are meant to be easy for the development team to understand and implement. They are used to help guide the development process and ensure that the final product meets the needs of the users.