What is Continuous Integration (CI)?
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Quick Answer
CI is the practice of frequently merging developers changes into a shared mainline, where each change automatically triggers a build and test run so integration problems surface early.
Detailed Answer
The core idea is small, frequent merges validated by an automated pipeline (compile, unit/integration tests, linters, security scans). Fast, reliable CI keeps main always in a working state and shrinks the feedback loop from days to minutes, which is the foundation everything else in CD builds on.
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Interview Tip
Emphasize small, frequent merges + automated verification keeping main releasable — not just running tests.
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