What characterizes the agile development methodology?

The agile development methodology is characterized by its ability to adapt swiftly to changes and facilitate rapid iterations throughout the project lifecycle. This approach recognizes that requirements often evolve and that teams must remain flexible to respond to new information or user feedback effectively. Agile emphasizes short development cycles, known as sprints or iterations, which allow teams to regularly reassess their progress and make necessary adjustments. This iterative process not only enhances collaboration within the team but also improves the product incrementally, ensuring that stakeholders are consistently involved and their inputs shape the final product. Overall, this responsiveness to change and the encouragement of continuous improvement are core principles of agile development, distinguishing it from more traditional methodologies that are often more rigid and prescriptive.