Definition
An integrated development environment (IDE) is a single graphical application that combines code editing, building, debugging and running. Xcode, Android Studio and Visual Studio Code are common examples.
How it works
The editor provides syntax highlighting, completion and refactoring. When a build is triggered, the IDE invokes the underlying toolchain — compilers, interpreters — to do the actual work; a debugger works with breakpoints to inspect variables and call stacks. The IDE’s value is wiring these steps into one coherent experience.
Usage
Mobile and large engineering projects often depend on an IDE to manage complex build configurations and debugging. Other developers prefer a lightweight editor plus CLI tools to accomplish the same work.
Related and confusable terms
The difference from a CLI is mostly the interaction model: an IDE is graphical, a CLI is text-based — but the two are not exclusive, since IDEs frequently wrap command-line tools.