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title Quick reference for concepts related to work item tasks
titleSuffix Azure Boards
description Learn about query operators, macros, and sample queries used to list work items for Azure Boards and Azure DevOps.
ms.custom work-items, engagement-fy23
ms.service azure-devops-boards
ms.topic overview
ms.author chcomley
author chcomley
monikerRange <= azure-devops
ms.date 09/05/2025

Key concepts and work item tasks

[!INCLUDE version-lt-eq-azure-devops]

Use this index to quickly access concepts and tasks related to work items and information on adding and updating work items—such as user stories, features, tasks, and bugs.

::: moniker range="azure-devops"

Note

The following features require the New Boards Hub feature, which is enabled by default. For more information, see Manage or enable features:

Key concepts

:::row::: :::column span="1"::: Core concepts - Agile glossary
- Work item types - Work item form
- Work item templates - Workflow and state categories - Assigned to
- Tags
- Following

  **Process frameworks**
  - [Basic process](../get-started/plan-track-work.md)  
  - [Agile process](guidance/agile-process.md)  
  - [Scrum process](guidance/scrum-process.md)  
  - [CMMI process](guidance/cmmi-process.md)  
  - [Process guidance](guidance/choose-process.md)

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Project structure - Area Paths
- Iteration Paths
- Teams and Agile tools

  **Linking and relationships**
  - [Link types](../queries/link-type-reference.md)  
  - [Link work items to other objects](../backlogs/add-link.md)  
  - [Dependencies](../best-practices-agile-project-management.md#manage-dependencies)  
  - [Track dependencies](../plans/track-dependencies.md)
  ::: moniker range="azure-devops"
  - [Remote linking](../backlogs/add-link.md)
  ::: moniker-end
  
  **Boards and backlogs**
  - [Delivery plans](../backlogs/backlogs-boards-plans.md)  
  - [Filtering](../backlogs/filter-backlogs-boards-plans.md)  
  ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
  - [Rollup](../backlogs/display-rollup.md)  
  ::: moniker-end

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Queries and reporting ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops" - Queries
::: moniker-end - Charts
- Chart for work items widget
- New work item widget

  **Customization and administration**
  - [Customization process models](../../reference/customize-work.md)  
  - [Inheritance process model](../../organizations/settings/work/inheritance-process-model.md)  
  - [On-premises XML process model](../../reference/on-premises-xml-process-model.md)  
  - [Set permissions and access](../../organizations/security/set-permissions-access-work-tracking.md)  
  - [Work tracking limits](../../organizations/settings/work/object-limits.md)
  
  **Tools and integration**
  - [Client tools](../../user-guide/tools.md)  
  - [Mobile browser](../../project/navigation/mobile-work.md)  
  - [Visual Studio work item experience](set-work-item-experience-vs.md)  
  - [Keyboard shortcuts](../../project/navigation/keyboard-shortcuts.md)

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

Common work item tasks

The following tasks are available to users with Contributor permissions and Basic access.

:::row::: :::column span="1"::: Create and add work items - Add a work item
- Add items to a backlog
- Add items to a board
- Add Epics
- Add Features
- Add tasks
- Apply a template to a work item
- Capture work item as a template
::: moniker range="<=azure-devops" - Define a work item template ::: moniker-end

  **View and navigate work items**
  - [Open work items](view-add-work-items.md)  
  ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
  - [View work items (mobile)](../../project/navigation/mobile-work.md)  
  - [View work items (web)](view-add-work-items.md)  
  - [View work assigned to me](view-add-work-items.md)  
  - [View work I'm following](view-add-work-items.md)  
  - [View work I've recently viewed or updated](view-add-work-items.md)  
  - [View work recently completed](view-add-work-items.md)  
  - [View work recently created](view-add-work-items.md)  
  - [View work where I'm mentioned](view-add-work-items.md)  
  ::: moniker-end

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Update and modify work items - Assign work to a team member
- Add to discussion
- Update status of tasks (Taskboard)
- Update status of work items (board)
- Change work item type
- Move work items to a sprint
- Move work items to another project
- Move a card to a specific column position - Reassign work items - Reassign a checklist item

  **Bulk operations**
  - [Bulk modify work items (Web)](../backlogs/bulk-modify-work-items.md)  
  - [Bulk modify work items (Excel)](../backlogs/office/bulk-add-modify-work-items-excel.md)  
  - [Bulk add or remove tags](../queries/add-tags-to-work-items.md#bulk-add-or-remove-tags)  
  
  **Copy and clone**
  - [Copy or clone a work item](../backlogs/copy-clone-work-items.md)  
  - [Copy work item URL](about-work-items.md#copy-the-url)       
  - [Copy list of work items](../backlogs/copy-clone-work-items.md#copy-a-list-of-work-items)

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Links and relationships - Add links
- Link work items
- Link to cross-organization work items
- Link to development objects
- Link to GitHub commits and pull requests
- Change the link type - Create a branch
- Use #ID to link

  **Tags and organization**
  - [Add tags](../queries/add-tags-to-work-items.md)  
  - [Manage work item tags](../queries/add-tags-to-work-items.md#delete-remove-or-manage-tags)  
  ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
  - [Delete work item tags](../queries/add-tags-to-work-items.md#delete-remove-or-manage-tags)  
  ::: moniker-end
  - [Group work items](../backlogs/organize-backlog.md#map-items-to-group-them-under-a-feature-or-epic)  
  - [Map work items](../backlogs/organize-backlog.md#map-items-to-group-them-under-a-feature-or-epic) 
  - [Prioritize backlog items](../backlogs/create-your-backlog.md#reorder-backlog)  
  
  **Follow and notifications**
  - [Follow a work item](follow-work-items.md)  
  - [Get notified of work item changes](../../organizations/notifications/manage-your-personal-notifications.md)  
  - [Use @mentions](../../organizations/notifications/at-mentions.md)

:::column-end::: :::row-end::: :::row::: :::column span="1"::: Queries and search - Query for work items
- List work items
- Query work item history
::: moniker range="<=azure-devops" - View history
::: moniker-end - Filter the History tab
- Filter a backlog, board, or plan

  **Specialized work item types**
  - [Manage bugs](../backlogs/manage-bugs.md)  
  - [Track bugs as requirements or tasks](about-work-items.md#track)  
  - [Manage issues or impediments](../backlogs/manage-issues-impediments.md)
  - [Request feedback](/previous-versions/azure/devops/project/feedback/get-feedback)

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Planning and forecasting - Forecast work items
- Track dependencies
::: moniker range="<=azure-devops" - Display rollup
::: moniker-end

  **Reporting and visualization**
  - [Create a work tracking chart](../../report/dashboards/charts.md)  
  - [Link to work items from a wiki](../../project/wiki/markdown-guidance.md)  
  - [List work items in a wiki](../../project/wiki/markdown-guidance.md)
  - [Start storyboarding](/previous-versions/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/storyboard-your-ideas-using-powerpoint)

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Export and sharing - Send email of work item list
- Export a work item list
- Print work items

  **Delete and restore**
  ::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"
  - [Delete work items](../backlogs/remove-delete-work-items.md)  
  ::: moniker-end
  - [Remove work items](../backlogs/remove-delete-work-items.md#remove-work-items)  
  ::: moniker range="azure-devops"
  - [Restore deleted work items](../backlogs/remove-delete-work-items.md#restore-or-permanently-delete-work-items)  
  ::: moniker-end

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

Administrative and customization tasks

Administrators with the necessary permissions perform the following tasks, as they affect all users and teams within a project.

::: moniker range="azure-devops"

You customize work item types using the Inheritance process model.

::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="<azure-devops"

You customize work item types using either the Inheritance process model or On-premises XML process model. The model in effect for the project depends on the selection made for the project collection where the project is defined.

Inherited process model

::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="<=azure-devops"

:::row::: :::column span="1"::: Project configuration - Create a project
- Define Area Paths
- Define Iteration Paths
- Set work tracking permissions - Restrict modification

  **Work item type customization**
  - [Add a custom work item type](../../organizations/settings/work/customize-process-work-item-type.md#add-wit)  
  - [Change the WIT color or description](../../organizations/settings/work/customize-process-work-item-type.md#overview)  
  - [Enable/disable a WIT](../../organizations/settings/work/customize-process-work-item-type.md#enable-disable)  
  - [Delete a WIT](../../organizations/settings/work/customize-process-work-item-type.md#destroy)

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Field customization - Add a custom field
- Add a checkbox (Boolean) field
- Add a person-name/Identity
- Add a picklist (drop-down menu)
- Add a rich-text (HTML) field
- Change a field label
- Delete field
- Modify a default pick list
- Set required/default options
:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Form and workflow customization - Add/remove custom groups
- Add/remove custom pages
- Add/remove a custom control
- Add/remove custom rules to a field
- Add, edit, or remove a WIT workflow state
- Move the field within the layout
- Remove a field from form

  **Process migration**
  - [Change the reference process from Agile to Scrum](../../organizations/settings/work/change-process-agile-to-scrum.md)  
  - [Change the reference process from Basic to Agile](../../organizations/settings/work/change-process-basic-to-agile.md)  
  - [Change the reference process from Scrum to Agile](../../organizations/settings/work/change-process-scrum-to-agile.md)

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

::: moniker-end

::: moniker range="<azure-devops"

On-premises XML process model

You customize work item types using the On-premises XML process model. For more customization options, see On-premises XML process customization.

:::row::: :::column span="1"::: Project configuration - Define Area Paths
- Define Iteration Paths
- Define global lists

  **Field customization**
  - [Add a checkbox (Boolean) field](../../reference/add-modify-field.md)  
  - [Add a custom field](../../reference/add-modify-field.md)  
  - [Add or modify a field](../../reference/add-modify-field.md)  
  - [Add a custom pick list](../../reference/add-modify-field.md#picklist)  
  - [Add a custom control field](../../reference/add-modify-field.md#custom-control)

:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Field rules and attributes - Add rules to a field
- Change a field attribute
- Change a field label
- Delete a field
- Remove a field from a form
- Modify a predefined pick list
:::column-end::: :::column span="1"::: Workflow and integration - Add/remove State or Reason fields (customize workflow)
- Add fields that integrate with test, build, and version control
:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

::: moniker-end

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