Continuous delivery (CD) is a software development practice that automates the release process, ensuring that software can be reliably deployed at any time. It involves building, testing, and preparing code changes for release to production. The core idea is to enable frequent and incremental updates, reducing the risks associated with large, infrequent releases. By automating the delivery pipeline, CD aims to streamline the process, improve efficiency, and provide faster feedback loops, ultimately leading to higher-quality software and increased customer satisfaction.