Easy Tech TutsHow to Use Work Items and Work Types in Jira
By Impran M N
Jira has been shifting some of its terminology toward 'work items' and 'work types' as part of a broader move to unify issue tracking across teams. This guide covers what these terms mean in practice and how to use them.
01Understand what a work item is
A work item is essentially what used to be called an issue — a single trackable unit of work like a task, bug, or story.
02Review available work types
Check your project's configured work types, which define the different categories of work items you can create.
03Create a work item with the right type
When creating new work, choose the work type that best matches what you're tracking, whether that's a task, bug, or epic.
04Customize work types if needed
Admins can add or adjust work types to better fit how the team categorizes its work.
05Use work types to filter and report
Filter boards and reports by work type to see how different categories of work are progressing.
Frequently asked questions
Is a work item the same as an issue in Jira?
Yes, work item is newer terminology Jira has introduced that maps to what was previously called an issue.
Do I need to change my existing project when this terminology updates?
No, existing projects and data continue to function the same; the change is primarily in labeling within the interface.
Can I create custom work types?
Yes, similar to custom issue types, administrators can define new work types to match specific team needs.
Does this terminology change affect the Jira API?
API behavior can vary by version, so it's worth checking Jira's documentation if you rely on integrations referencing issue types.
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