GitLab CI/CD

GitLab CI/CD is a native continuous integration and continuous delivery system integrated directly within the GitLab platform. Unlike CI/CD tools that require external integration, it functions as a seamless component of GitLab's full DevOps lifecycle — combining version control, issue tracking, code review, security scanning, container registry, and deployment into a single unified experience.

Pipelines are defined through .gitlab-ci.yml configuration files stored at the root of your repository, specifying stages, jobs, scripts, and dependencies. When code is committed or a merge request is opened, GitLab automatically triggers the pipeline, running tests, building artifacts, and deploying applications according to the defined workflow. This configuration-as-code approach ensures pipelines are version-controlled, auditable, and reproducible across environments.

The platform supports two execution models: GitLab-hosted runners (managed shared or dedicated infrastructure) and self-hosted runners (your own servers, VMs, or Kubernetes clusters). Multiple executor types — Docker, Kubernetes, Shell, and machine — provide flexibility for diverse workloads and compliance requirements.

Advanced pipeline features include parent-child pipelines for decomposing complex workflows; merge trains for sequential validation of queued changes; CI/CD Components enabling reusable, standardized pipeline modules via the GitLab CI/CD Catalog; and built-in artifact caching for faster execution. Security tiers add SAST, DAST, and dependency scanning directly in the pipeline without third-party tooling.

GitLab CE (Community Edition) is open source under the MIT Expat license, fully self-hostable. GitLab.com (SaaS) and GitLab EE (Enterprise Edition) offer managed hosting with premium features and support.