Continuous integration is like a conveyor belt in a factory that checks each item as it's made to ensure it meets the quality standards. In software development, it's a practice where every time a programmer makes a change to the code, that change is automatically tested and added to a shared repository where all the code is stored. It's a bit like quality control for software. This frequent testing and integration help catch problems early and make sure that the code always works well with the rest of the project. It's like having a team of testers and builders who work together to ensure that every piece of code is reliable and fits perfectly into the final product. Continuous integration keeps the development process smooth and the software high-quality.