"Continuous integration" (CI) refers to a software development practice where developers frequently integrate their code changes into a shared repository. This enables teams to detect errors and issues early in the development process. CI emphasizes automation, such as automated testing and building processes, which helps ensure that the integrated code remains functional and stable. The main goal of continuous integration is to improve software quality and accelerate development cycles, promoting faster delivery of features while reducing the risk of conflicts and regression bugs as the codebase evolves.