What are Push and Pull Principles in CI/CD?

In CI/CD, Push and Pull principles describe how code changes are integrated and deployed. With the Push principle, changes are automatically pushed through the pipeline after each commit—triggering builds, tests, and deployments without manual intervention. In contrast, the Pull principle requires manual approval or a deliberate action to pull changes into the next stage, offering more control. Push is great for fast feedback and rapid iteration, while Pull is better suited for environments needing stricter governance or quality gates. Many teams use a combination of both to balance speed and control.