Interview Questions

What is the difference between build and release?

Software QA/Testing Technical FAQs


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What is the difference between build and release?

Builds and releases are similar, because both builds and releases are end products of software development processes. Builds and releases are similar, because both builds and releases help developers and QA teams to deliver reliable software.
A build is a version of a software; typically one that is still in testing. A version number is usually given to a released product, but sometimes a build number is used instead.
Difference number one: "Build" refers to software that is still in testing, but "release" refers to software that is usually no longer in testing.
Difference number two: "Builds" occur more frequently; "releases" occur less frequently.
Difference number three: "Versions" are based on "builds", and not vice versa. Builds (or a series of builds) are generated first, as often as one build per every morning (depending on the company), and then every release is based on a build (or several builds), i.e. the accumulated code of several builds.

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