What is the primary consideration when defining when a Product Backlog item is complete?

The primary consideration when defining when a Product Backlog item is complete revolves around whether there is no work remaining for the item to be released. This perspective aligns with the Scrum framework's focus on delivering potentially releasable increments of the product at the end of each Sprint.

In Scrum, the definition of "done" must encompass all aspects required to ensure that an item can be considered complete and is ready for release to stakeholders or users. This includes the functionality being developed, any necessary documentation, compliance with quality standards, and proper testing. The overarching goal is to deliver a product that not only works but can also be deployed, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all necessary work is finished.

While passing tests, finishing documentation, or the team's subjective feelings about completion might seem significant, these aspects can vary widely between teams or even projects and do not necessarily guarantee that the item is ready for delivery to the end-users. Therefore, defining completion in terms of there being no remaining work needed, and the ability to release the functionality, serves to promote clarity and consistency in assessing completeness within the Scrum team.