GitLab CI
February 22, 2026
What it is
GitLab CI/CD is the pipeline engine built into GitLab. Define jobs in .gitlab-ci.yml; run on GitLab-hosted or self-managed runners. Includes container registry, security scanning, and deployment features.
Usage
Build, test, and deploy on push/merge; use Docker or Kubernetes runners; integrate with GitLab issues and MRs; run security and dependency scans.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| All-in-one: repo, CI, registry, security | Tied to GitLab (self-host or SaaS) |
| Single YAML file per project | Runner management for self-hosted |
| Good docs and templates | |
| Self-hosted option (GitLab CE/EE) |
Alternatives
Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Tekton. Why GitLab CI: You already use GitLab and want one platform for code, CI, and registry.
Links
- Homepage: https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/
- Documentation: https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/