Self-Hosted Runner (GitHub Actions) - CI/CD Glossary Definition
A self-hosted runner is a machine you register with GitHub Actions to run jobs on your own infrastructure.
A self-hosted runner is a machine you own and register with GitHub Actions to execute workflow jobs, giving you control over hardware, network access, and pre-installed tools in exchange for maintaining the runner yourself.
Self-hosted runners run the same job steps as GitHub-hosted runners but on hardware you provision, patch, and secure. They are commonly used for larger machines, private-network access, or custom toolchains.
When to use one
Reach for a self-hosted runner when you need more CPU or memory than hosted runners provide, access to a private network, GPUs, or a build environment with tools already installed. You are then responsible for OS patching and runner-agent updates.