What is the difference between a build and a release?

Build (assembly) is a version of a program at a certain stage of development, including compiled code, resources, and dependencies. It may be unstable, contain errors, and is intended for internal testing and development.

Release is a stable version of the program that has passed all testing stages and is prepared for distribution among end-users. It includes an installation or deployment package and is accompanied by documentation.

Main differences:

Characteristic	Build	Release
Purpose	Internal testing, development	Distribution among users
Stability	Unstable	Stable
Testing	In progress	Completed, comprehensive testing
Documentation	Minimal or absent	Complete, includes user manual
Versioning	Usually uses build numbers	Uses main and minor versions
Distribution	Within the development/testing team	External, to a wide audience
State	Working, but with potential bugs	Ready for operation