What are quality gates in the software delivery lifecycle?

Quality gates serve as crucial checkpoints within the software delivery lifecycle that establish specific benchmarks defining measurable success criteria. They ensure that a software project meets predetermined quality standards before progressing to the next phase of development. This can include evaluations based on various metrics such as code quality, test coverage, and performance indicators. By implementing quality gates, teams can identify potential issues early on and mitigate risks, ultimately leading to a more reliable and higher-quality software product.

The essence of quality gates is to safeguard the integrity of the development process, ensuring that only code that meets the set criteria can move forward. This not only facilitates improved collaboration among team members but also aligns the project with best practices and stakeholder expectations for quality assurance.