Which of the following best describes Agile development?

Agile development is best characterized by its iterative approach that emphasizes learning, regular builds, testing, and deployment. This methodology focuses on adapting to change quickly and delivering functional software through incremental improvements. In Agile, teams work in short cycles, known as iterations or sprints, allowing for continuous feedback and adjustment based on stakeholder input. This flexibility supports a more responsive development process where features can be refined and priorities can shift as the project evolves.

The emphasis on collaboration among cross-functional teams and engaging with end-users throughout the development process are also key traits of Agile. By prioritizing working software over comprehensive documentation, Agile encourages a dynamic environment that fosters innovation and rapid problem solving.

The other mentioned approaches do not capture the essence of Agile development. Lengthy planning phases are typically associated with traditional project management methodologies, rather than Agile, which favors incremental planning. A sequential and rigid project management framework describes a Waterfall approach, which is the opposite of Agile's adaptive nature. Lastly, while documentation is a part of Agile practices, the focus is not on increasing documentation, but rather on producing just enough documentation to support collaboration and understanding, aligning with the principle of valuing working software over comprehensive documentation.