What is technical debt?

Answer

Technical debt is the implied future cost of choosing a quick or easy solution now instead of a better approach that would take longer. Like financial debt, it accrues 'interest' in the form of slower development, more bugs, and harder maintenance until it is paid down through refactoring. Some debt is deliberate and strategic—shipping fast to learn—while some is accidental, from outdated knowledge or shifting requirements. Managing it well means tracking it, communicating its impact, and paying it down before interest compounds.