Definition
Continuous integration, often abbreviated as CI, is a development practice where developers frequently merge their code changes into a central repository, after which automated builds and tests are run. This process involves developers committing code to a shared repository multiple times a day, triggering an automated pipeline that compiles the code and executes a suite of tests. CI is crucial for improving software quality and reducing integration problems by catching bugs early in the development cycle. For instance, a team might use CI to automatically test every new feature pushed to their main branch, ensuring it doesn't break existing functionality. Unlike continuous delivery, which focuses on releasing code to production, CI specifically addresses the integration and testing phases. This concept is frequently assessed on exams like the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate and the CompTIA Security+.