What does the term 'cartridge' refer to in the context of SFCC?

In the context of Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFCC), the term 'cartridge' refers to a packaging format for deploying custom code. Cartridges are essentially bundles that contain specific functionalities, such as custom code, templates, assets, scripts, and configuration files. This modular approach allows developers to create and manage different aspects of their SFCC applications more effectively, facilitating easier updates, maintenance, and project organization.

Cartridges are crucial for integrating third-party providers, implementing custom business logic, or extending the platform's default behavior. Their structure also supports versioning, which can help in managing updates or rollbacks as needed during the development process.

The other options, while they describe various components or features related to software development and deployment, do not accurately convey the specific meaning and role of a cartridge within the SFCC ecosystem.