A set of specific, measurable requirements that must be met before a task or deliverable is considered complete. It ensures quality standards and prevents miscommunication about completion.
From Old English 'don' (finished) and Greek 'kriterion' (standard for judging). The formalized concept emerged in agile software development in the early 2000s to improve quality and reduce rework.
Done criteria are like a recipe's final checklist - 'golden brown,' 'internal temperature 165°F,' 'rests for 5 minutes.' Without clear done criteria, teams waste enormous time debating whether something is truly finished, leading to the dreaded 'almost done' syndrome!
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