How to Quickly Create Jira Epics and Associate User Stories and Tasks

How to Create a Jira Epic and Why Your Epics Should Always Have an End

Epics are one of the most powerful work item types in Jira, but they are also one of the most commonly misused. An epic represents a large outcome that is delivered through multiple smaller work items such as stories, tasks, and bug fixes. You do not work on an epic directly. You complete the work inside it until the epic itself is finished.

The Modern Jira Epic

In the latest Jira interface, epics are simpler than they used to be. There are no longer separate Title and Summary fields. An epic now uses a single Title field, and Jira automatically assigns a unique key such as PROJ-12 or APP-34. On boards and roadmaps, that key is often used for minimal display, making epics easy to reference during planning and stand-ups.

How Epics Compare to Other Work Item Types

Stories represent small, user-focused pieces of functionality that can usually be completed in one sprint.
Tasks represent technical or operational work.
Bugs represent defects that must be fixed.
Epics sit above all of these and group related work into meaningful deliverables.

If a piece of work feels too large to complete in a single sprint, it probably belongs in an epic.

The Most Important Rule for Epics

Every epic must have a natural end.

Avoid creating endless epics such as “Platform Improvements” or “Ongoing Enhancements.” These become dumping grounds that never finish and make reporting meaningless.

Instead, create outcome-based epics such as “New Checkout Experience,” “User Profile Redesign,” or “Billing System Upgrade.” These represent real deliverables and can be closed when the outcome is complete.

When epics are created with a clear title, defined scope, and a natural end, Jira becomes easier to plan, easier to report on, and easier to manage.