What does Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) primarily offer to its subscribers?

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) primarily offers development tools and deployment platforms to its subscribers. This model allows developers to build, test, and deploy applications without the complexities associated with managing the underlying infrastructure. PaaS provides a robust environment that includes operating systems, programming language execution environments, middleware, and database management systems, all hosted in the cloud.

By focusing on development tools and deployment processes, PaaS enables developers to concentrate on writing code and creating features rather than worrying about server management, network configuration, or storage provisioning. This streamlines the development workflow and enhances productivity, as developers can quickly scale applications and leverage various services provided by the platform.

The other options do provide valuable services in cloud computing but do not encapsulate the essence of PaaS as accurately. PaaS distinguishes itself by enabling application development rather than simply offering infrastructure or storage solutions.