Definition
Continuous Delivery (CI) is a software development practice where code changes are automatically built, tested, and prepared for release to production. This process ensures that code is always in a deployable state, allowing for frequent and reliable releases. CI helps teams deliver value to users faster and reduces the risk associated with deploying new features. For example, a team might use CI to automatically run unit tests and integration tests every time a developer commits code, catching bugs early. It is distinct from Continuous Deployment, which automatically deploys every validated change to production. This concept is foundational in modern DevOps practices and is relevant for roles covered by AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate and CompTIA Security+ exams.