The term represents a release candidate of a specific iteration of Apple’s mobile operating system. It signifies a version considered nearly complete and is distributed to developers and public beta testers for final evaluation. Functionally, it mirrors the anticipated final public release, offering users a preview of upcoming features and changes before they become broadly available. A successful assessment of this candidate typically precedes its widespread deployment to compatible devices.
Its significance lies in providing a crucial pre-release testing phase. This allows for the identification and remediation of any remaining software defects or compatibility issues before the update reaches a wider user base. This process contributes to a more stable and polished user experience upon general release. Historically, these candidates have served as key indicators of the features and improvements Apple intends to implement in its operating system updates.
