The correct answer is Platform as a Service (PaaS). PaaS provides a comprehensive environment that includes not only the hardware infrastructure but also the operating system software needed for developers to build, deploy, and manage applications. It abstracts the underlying hardware and networking components, allowing developers to focus more on coding and application development rather than managing the infrastructure.
PaaS typically provides tools and services such as database management, development frameworks, and application hosting, which are crucial for running client applications seamlessly. This allows for greater efficiency and scalability in software development, making it easier for developers to collaborate and innovate.
Other options like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) focus primarily on providing virtualized computing resources over the internet, which may include networking and storage but typically requires the user to manage the operating system and application software. Software as a Service (SaaS) delivers complete software solutions over the internet without the user having to worry about the underlying infrastructure or platform. Function as a Service (FaaS), on the other hand, is a serverless computing model that runs specific functions in response to events, serving a different purpose than that of providing a complete environment for application development and deployment.