Final answer:
Staged deployment or staging environments allow for the controlled release of software. The software moves sequentially through development, testing, staging, and production environments to ensure that issues are resolved before it reaches end-users.
Step-by-step explanation:
The staging option that allows the specific release of software in a controlled manner is often referred to as staged deployment or staging environments. This process involves the use of multiple progressive environments, such as development, testing, staging, and production. Software is moved through these environments sequentially, ensuring that any issues can be identified and resolved before the software is released to the end-users. Most commonly, developers will first deploy to a development environment where they can make changes and test new code. Then, when ready for more rigorous testing, the software moves to a testing or QA (Quality Assurance) environment, where it undergoes further examination for defects.
Once the software has passed this stage, it can be moved to the staging environment, which mirrors the production environment as closely as possible. This is the final step before deployment where the software is tested as if it were in the live environment, without impacting actual users. If all criteria are met in the staging environment, the software then proceeds to the production environment, making it available to the end-users. This controlled approach is advantageous as it minimizes the risk of introducing bugs to the live system and allows for thorough testing and quality assurance.