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A "golden master" (GM) is the final, approved version of a software program or video game that is ready for mass production and distribution. It signifies the end of the development and testing cycle, meaning all significant bugs have been fixed and the product meets all quality and functional requirements. The term comes from the audio industry, where a gold master is the master record used to create duplicates.

Key aspects of a golden master:

Final version: It is the culmination of the development process, approved for release.

For duplication: It is the master copy used to create all subsequent copies, whether on physical media or as a digital image.

Quality assurance: It has passed all quality control checks, including extensive testing and bug fixes.

Industry use: The term is common in the software and video game industries, though some companies, like Microsoft, use the similar "Release to Manufacturing" (RTM) term.

"Gone gold": When a product reaches the golden master stage, it is often said to have "gone gold," indicating it's complete and will soon be available to consumers.