What it means
After code is written and tested, it has to reach the live system. Deployment covers the steps that make that happen: building the app, running checks, moving it to servers and switching users to the new version.
Modern teams automate deployment, so releasing is a routine, low-risk step that can happen several times a week. They also keep a quick way to roll back if something goes wrong.
Why it matters for a business
When deployment is manual and rare, each release is big, risky and stressful. Automated, frequent deployments deliver improvements sooner and make problems smaller and easier to fix.
A business example
Things to watch
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Automate deployments so they are repeatable.
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Test on a staging environment first.
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Keep a fast way to roll back.
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Run database changes in a controlled way, separate from code changes when possible.
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Tell users about visible changes before or right after a release.
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Monitor errors and performance closely in the first hour after each deployment.