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CI/CD & Velocity

DORA metrics

Also known as: Four Keys

DORA metrics are four research-backed measures of software delivery performance: deployment frequency, lead time for changes, change failure rate, and time to restore service.

Defined by the DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) program, the four keys split into throughput (deployment frequency, lead time) and stability (change failure rate, time to restore). They are the standard way to talk about whether an engineering org ships fast and safely.

Testing connects directly to the stability metrics: reliable, fast tests lower change failure rate and shorten lead time, while flaky tests and slow feedback drag both the wrong way. Quality data is a leading indicator for DORA outcomes.

  • Four keys: deployment frequency, lead time, change failure rate, time to restore.
  • Throughput (speed) vs stability (safety).
  • Test reliability and speed are direct levers on the stability metrics.

Related terms

Quality gate Mean time to detection (MTTD) Release readiness Shift-left testing

Sources

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Last reviewed June 11, 2026