A release artifact is a packaged file or set of files generated as the output of a software build process. These artifacts can include executables, libraries, configuration files, or documentation, and are typically versioned and stored in a repository for distribution or deployment. In cybersecurity, ensuring the integrity and authenticity of release artifacts is crucial, as attackers may attempt to tamper with them to introduce malicious code. Security measures such as cryptographic signing and checksums are often used to verify that artifacts have not been altered. Release artifacts play a key role in the secure delivery and deployment of software.