The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the corpus callosum over time, from its formation to the mature structure. The corpus callosum is a thick bundle of nerve fibers comprising a commissural plate connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. It consists of contralateral axon projections that provide communication between the right and left cerebral hemispheres. [ GOC:jid http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/go/references/0000021 GOC:curators GOC:dph GOC:dgh GOC:cls ]