Baseline Definition

Baseline — a point in time during which a software system or a program is corresponding with established goals and milestones that can later serve as a reference going into future development. Unique quality of baseline is that it is not a finished product but rather a version that is stable and can be well-functioning in aftermath of major completion phase.

With the capability to utilize baselines software engineers can track changes from this point of time which facilitates consistency. On top of that, it is valued at the stage of testing serving as a reference point of stability helping to track implementations that introduced disruptions.