The primary distinction between continuous delivery and continuous deployment lies in the deployment process, where continuous delivery requires a manual step, whereas continuous deployment automates the process once tests are passed. Continuous delivery ensures that software is always ready for deployment through rigorous testing and packaging, fostering collaboration between developers and operators, although historically, the operational aspect lagged behind development. In contrast, continuous deployment emphasizes a robust testing framework to facilitate automatic code deployment, though it challenges teams to maintain exhaustive test coverage. Both methodologies aim to alleviate the stress of deploying large swathes of code by encouraging smaller, incremental changes, ultimately fostering a DevOps culture that merges development with operations to deliver software more efficiently. This alignment is crucial in adapting to the ever-evolving technological landscape, promoting continuous improvement and feedback, as highlighted by CircleCI's research into high-performing software delivery teams.