What statement best describes the role of staging environments in platform testing?

Staging environments play a crucial role in the testing process by providing a safe and controlled space where software changes can be evaluated before being rolled out to production. These environments simulate the production environment, allowing engineers to validate functionality, performance, and integrations without the risks associated with testing directly in the live system. This helps ensure that any issues or bugs are addressed early on, thereby minimizing disruption to end users and operational workflows. Testing in a staging environment allows for more thorough testing, including user acceptance testing and performance testing, which is essential for identifying potential problems under conditions that closely mirror actual usage.