The Couchbase Lite replication process runs in the background, using threads to sync data between devices. To accurately detect the state of a replication, developers should use a change listener instead of relying on the `isRunning()` property or other convenience methods, which can lead to unexpected results due to asynchronous changes. A recommended approach involves implementing an interface that defines a callback pattern for handling changes, allowing for separation of concerns between the database helper class and the client class. This design enables clients to register listeners and receive notifications when replication state changes, such as when a replication starts or stops running.