Release management is the discipline of planning, scheduling, coordinating, and controlling the deployment of software changes from development through production environments. It bridges product strategy with operational execution, ensuring that new features, bug fixes, and updates reach users reliably and with minimal disruption. Effective release management balances speed with stability, enabling teams to deliver value continuously while maintaining system health and meeting regulatory requirements. The practice has evolved from infrequent, high-risk "big bang" releases to modern continuous delivery models where releases become routine, automated, and reversible—transforming deployments from nerve-wracking events into predictable, boring operations.