In software development, sprints are time-boxed periods during which a team of developers works to complete a set of tasks or user stories. Sprints are a key component of agile software development, which emphasises flexibility, collaboration and continuous improvement in software development. Sprints typically last between one and four weeks, during which the team works to complete a set of tasks or user stories that have been prioritised by the product owner. The team meets daily during the sprint in a short meeting to discuss progress and any impediments that need to be addressed. At the end of the sprint, the team reviews their progress and demonstrates the completed work to stakeholders.

The goal of sprints is to break down the development process into smaller, more manageable chunks, and to focus the team on delivering high-quality, working software in a timely manner. Sprints also enable teams to adapt to changing requirements and feedback, and to continuously improve their processes and outcomes over time. One of the key benefits of sprints is the possibility to release software functions one at a time rather than having to complete the whole project before releasing it and getting feedback from real end users.