What is the main function of PaaS in cloud services?

The primary function of Platform as a Service (PaaS) in cloud services is to deliver development tools and services that enable developers to build, deploy, and manage applications without the complexity of underlying infrastructure. PaaS provides a comprehensive environment that includes application hosting, development frameworks, middleware, and various tools that facilitate collaboration and streamline the development process.

This allows developers to focus on writing code and creating applications rather than worrying about hardware, operating systems, storage, or networking concerns. Additionally, PaaS typically offers integrated services for database management, application testing, and production monitoring, helping to accelerate development cycles and enhance overall productivity.

Other options, while related to cloud services, do not capture the essence of what PaaS provides. Ready-made backend features tend to be more aligned with Backend as a Service (BaaS), virtual computing resources are typically associated with Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and accessing application software is more related to Software as a Service (SaaS). Thus, the delivery of development tools and services is what distinctly characterizes PaaS, emphasizing its role in the application development lifecycle.