CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (or Continuous Delivery), a set of practices in software development aimed at improving the delivery process through automation. Continuous Integration involves regularly merging code changes into a shared repository, where automated builds and tests are run to detect and address issues early in the development cycle. This practice helps teams identify bugs faster, improve code quality, and reduce integration problems, leading to more reliable software.

Continuous Deployment (or Delivery) extends this approach by automating the release of code changes to production environments. In Continuous Deployment, every change that passes automated tests is automatically deployed to production, allowing for frequent and consistent updates to the software. Continuous Delivery, on the other hand, involves manual approval before deployment. Both practices aim to shorten the development cycle, allowing teams to deliver new features, bug fixes, and updates more quickly and with fewer risks, ultimately enhancing the overall software development process.