Fix a live problem quickly
If checkout stops accepting payments or private information is exposed, waiting for the next planned release may cause more harm. A hotfix addresses the immediate problem as soon as it can be safely deployed.
The team may start from the version running in production, make the smallest safe change, review and test it, then deploy through a faster process.
Speed still needs safeguards
Rushing a fix can cause another failure. Teams keep essential review, testing, monitoring, and communication. Afterwards, they make sure future releases include the fix and address any shortcuts or underlying causes.