Continuous Deployment

Simple Definition for Beginners:

Continuous Deployment (CD) is a software development practice where code changes are automatically released to production environments after passing automated tests.

Common Use Example:

In a continuous deployment pipeline, code changes that pass all tests in development and staging environments are automatically deployed to production without manual intervention.

Technical Definition for Professionals:

Continuous Deployment (CD) is an advanced software development practice that extends Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Delivery (CD) by automatically releasing code changes to production environments after successful automated testing. Unlike Continuous Delivery, which prepares code changes for deployment but requires manual approval for production release, Continuous Deployment automates the entire deployment process, including production releases. CD pipelines in continuous deployment workflows often include stages for building, testing, deployment to staging, and automated deployment to production. This practice enables rapid and frequent software releases, enhances development agility, and reduces the time to market for new features and updates.