The main characteristic of agile development methodologies is their iterative approach to software development. Agile emphasizes the importance of flexibility and responsiveness to change, enabling teams to adapt to evolving requirements and priorities throughout the development process. Unlike traditional methods that rely on a linear, sequential flow, Agile promotes short development cycles or sprints that deliver incremental improvements. This iterative nature fosters collaboration, continuous feedback, and a focus on delivering functional software quickly, ultimately enhancing product quality and user satisfaction.