Term | Explanation |
Jenkins Server | The Jenkins server is the term for the computer that manages all Jenkins build activity. It provides a web interface for users to interact with, and it can delegate build activities to other computers (Jenkins worker nodes). One Jenkins server can be used to manage many worker nodes. |
Jenkins Worker Node | A computer connected to the Jenkins server. This computer will run build jobs for the server. Worker node computers may all be configured the same, or some may be used to provide specific tools (e.g., those that can only run on one operating system, such as Xcode), or different versions of the same tool that will not co-exist on the same computer. |
Build Job | A series of build steps executed one after the other in a single workspace in order to do something useful for the developer (e.g., compile an application, generate a test report, etc.). |
Build Step | This is the smallest unit of work in Jenkins. It comprises a single action (eg., launch Ant/Gradle/Maven with a target, run a batch script, delete a file). |
Workspace | A folder in which a Jenkins job runs its build steps. This folder may be on the Jenkins server or one of the Jenkins worker nodes, and it may be in a different place (or on a different computer) every time the job runs. |
Pipeline | A collection of Jenkins jobs that are tied together to perform a larger workflow (e.g., compile > run tests > generate reports). Unlike build steps in a job, jobs in a pipeline can be executing simultaneously. |
Build Artifact | The end product of a build job (e.g., an .apk or .app file for building a mobile project). |