Definition
Application deployment is the process of making a software application available for use by its intended users. This involves packaging the application code, configuring the necessary infrastructure, and installing the application onto servers or cloud environments. In practice, deployment can range from a simple manual copy to complex automated pipelines that integrate testing and rollback capabilities. Understanding application deployment is crucial for IT professionals as it directly impacts system availability, performance, and security. For example, deploying a web application might involve setting up web servers, databases, and load balancers, then transferring the application files. This differs from application development, which focuses on writing the code itself rather than its release. Concepts related to application deployment appear in domains like cloud computing and IT operations on certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate.