Term explained
What is CI/CD?
CI/CD (continuous integration and continuous delivery) is the automated assembly line that tests every change to software and gets it ready to release, or releases it.
In plain English
Continuous integration (CI) means that every time a developer saves a change to the shared code, a computer automatically builds the software and runs its tests. If something breaks, the team finds out within minutes, not weeks later.
Continuous delivery (CD) goes one step further: every change that passes the tests is packaged and ready to release at the press of a button. Some teams go all the way to continuous deployment, where passing changes go live automatically.
Together they form a pipeline: a series of automatic checks every change has to pass, like quality control on a factory line.
Why it matters
CI/CD is what makes frequent, small, safe updates possible. It is also where teams add security checks, such as scanning for vulnerabilities and leaked passwords, so they happen on every change instead of being forgotten.
An example
A developer proposes a change. Within minutes the pipeline builds the app, runs 2,000 automated tests, scans the code for security problems and reports back. Only if everything passes, and a colleague approves, is the change released.
What to watch out for
A pipeline is only as good as its checks. With AI writing more code, teams need tests that really prove the software works, not just tests that pass. See how AI is changing the way software gets shipped.