Description: An integration branch in a version control system is a workspace where changes from multiple sources are combined, facilitating collaboration among developers. This branch allows development teams to integrate and test new features or bug fixes before merging them into the project’s main branch, such as ‘main’ or ‘master’. Integration branches are crucial in agile development environments, where changes are made continuously and frequent integration is required to maintain software stability. By using an integration branch, developers can work on their own features in isolation, ensuring that their changes do not affect others’ work until they are ready to be reviewed and merged. This practice not only improves code quality but also allows for more efficient management of conflicts that may arise when multiple developers work on the same project. In the context of CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment), integration branches are essential as they enable the automation of testing and deployments, ensuring that the software remains in a functional state and ready for production at all times.
