---
title: How does a Product Goal differ from a Sprint Goal?
description: "A [Product Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/product-goal/) differs from a [Sprint Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-goal/) primarily in [Scope](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/scope/). While both are simple directional statements that provide an objective and purpose, the [Product Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/product-goal/) applies to the entire [Product Backlog](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/a-scrum-artifact-that-consists-of-an-ordered-list-of-the-work-to-be-done-in-order-to-create-maintain-and-sustain-a-product-managed-by-the-product-owner/), whereas the [Sprint Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-goal/) pertains only to the…"
url: "https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/docs/how-does-a-product-goal-differ-from-a-sprint-goal/"
updated: "2024-12-19"
category: Commitments / Product Goal
---

# How does a Product Goal differ from a Sprint Goal?

A [Product Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/product-goal/) differs from a [Sprint Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-goal/) primarily in [Scope](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/scope/). While both are simple directional statements that provide an objective and purpose, the [Product Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/product-goal/) applies to the entire [Product Backlog](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/a-scrum-artifact-that-consists-of-an-ordered-list-of-the-work-to-be-done-in-order-to-create-maintain-and-sustain-a-product-managed-by-the-product-owner/), whereas the [Sprint Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-goal/) pertains only to the [Sprint Backlog](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-backlog/). Each serves to motivate, direct, and measure progress but over different time frames.

The [Product Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/product-goal/) is long-term, guiding the overall direction of the product, while the [Sprint Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-goal/) is short-term, focusing on the immediate objectives for the current sprint. Achieving each [Sprint Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/sprint-goal/) helps incrementally move the product towards fulfilling the [Product Goal](https://www.thescrummaster.co.uk/glossary/product-goal/).