CI/CD reliability

Flaky Tests: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How to Fix Them (2026)

Flaky tests are automated tests that produce inconsistent results—passing and failing without code changes—affecting up to 16% of tests in large codebases. They erode CI/CD reliability, waste 15-20% of developer debugging time, and mask real defects. This guide covers root causes, detection strategies, and proven fixes.