What is the primary purpose of CI/CD in software delivery?

• A. CI automatically builds and tests code on changes; CD automates release to staging/production.
• B. CI is for security auditing; CD is for marketing.
• C. CI and CD are the same.
• D. CI/CD is used only in hardware projects.

Answer: (B)

Continuous integration and continuous delivery/deployment streamline software delivery by automating the build, test, and release processes. CI automatically builds the code and runs tests every time changes are pushed, catching integration problems early and ensuring the codebase stays healthy. CD takes the validated build and automatically deploys it through environments such as staging and production, often with gates or approvals to keep deployments safe and reliable. Together, they enable frequent, trusted releases rather than long, manual handoffs. The other descriptions miss the main idea: CI/CD centers on automating software delivery, not security auditing, marketing, or hardware-only projects.