What does TDD stand for in software development?

In software development, TDD stands for Test Driven Development. This methodology emphasizes writing tests before writing the code that needs to pass those tests. The approach follows a cycle of writing a test for a new function or feature, running the test to ensure it fails (as the feature has not been implemented yet), writing the minimum amount of code necessary to pass the test, and then refactoring the code to improve its quality while ensuring that all tests still pass.

TDD promotes a clearer understanding of design requirements and can lead to more reliable code by ensuring that each piece of functionality is tested as it is developed. This practice helps in catching bugs early in the development process, improving the robustness of the code, and often results in better internal documentation since the tests effectively describe what the code is supposed to do.

The other options, while they may relate to various methodologies or concepts within software development, do not accurately represent TDD. For example, Technical Development Documentation refers to the documentation that outlines development processes and decisions, and Template Driven Design or Total Development Delivery do not align with the established meanings and practices associated with test-driven development in the industry.