What does marking the "Validation Only" checkbox allow?

Marking the "Validation Only" checkbox is a crucial feature in the deployment process as it allows users to verify the integrity and compatibility of selected user stories without making any modifications or merging them into the production branch. This function is particularly useful during testing and quality assurance phases, as it ensures that the selected changes will not introduce errors or conflicts into the existing codebase.

By utilizing the validation-only option, teams can thoroughly check their configurations, test the deployment process, and confirm that everything works as expected—all while keeping the changes separate from the main production line. This is an essential step before proceeding with actual deployments to ensure system stability and reliability.

The other choices involve actions that diverge from the intended purpose of the "Validation Only" feature. For example, skipping the deployment process entirely or deploying changes directly to production would negate the purpose of validation, and creating a new promotion branch wouldn’t align with merely validating existing changes.