# DevOps (Development and Operations)

URL: https://softwaredictionary.org/terms/devops
Category: DevOps & Cloud
Last updated: 2026-09-29

In short: DevOps is a set of practices and a culture that brings software development and IT operations together to deliver software faster and more reliably.

## What is DevOps?

DevOps combines development (writing software) and operations (running it in production) into one shared way of working. Instead of developers handing finished code over to a separate operations team, the same team is responsible for building, testing, releasing, and monitoring the software.

In practice, DevOps relies heavily on automation. Teams use CI/CD pipelines to test and deploy every change, infrastructure as code to create servers and networks from version-controlled files, containers for consistent environments, and monitoring and alerting to spot problems quickly. The goal is small, frequent, low-risk releases instead of large, infrequent ones.

A useful analogy is a restaurant where the chefs also hear customer feedback directly, instead of passing plates through a wall and never seeing the diners. Shorter feedback loops lead to faster fixes and better results. The DORA metrics, such as deployment frequency and time to restore service, are a common way to measure how well DevOps practices are working.

DevOps is often mistaken for a job title or a specific tool, but it is primarily a culture and a set of practices. A DevOps engineer is someone who builds the automation and platforms that make those practices possible. Related terms include SRE (site reliability engineering), which applies software engineering to operations, and DevSecOps, which builds security into every stage.

## Key takeaways

- DevOps unites development and operations into one shared responsibility.
- Automation is central: CI/CD, infrastructure as code, and monitoring.
- Small, frequent releases reduce risk and speed up feedback.
- It is a culture and set of practices, not a single tool or product.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is DevOps a job or a methodology?**

DevOps is primarily a culture and set of practices. The title DevOps engineer usually refers to someone who builds and maintains the automation, pipelines, and infrastructure that support those practices.

**What is the difference between DevOps and Agile?**

Agile focuses on how teams plan and build software in short iterations with frequent feedback. DevOps extends that idea beyond development to include releasing, operating, and monitoring software in production.

**What is the difference between DevOps and SRE?**

SRE (site reliability engineering) is one concrete way of putting DevOps ideas into practice, using software engineering to run operations and measurable reliability targets called SLOs. DevOps is the broader culture.

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