What does the "Retrieve Only" option accomplish?

The "Retrieve Only" option is designed to allow users to make updates to permissions without committing any related components. This functionality is useful when fine-tuning access rights or permissions in a Salesforce environment, allowing administrators to selectively adjust permissions as needed without risking unintentional changes to other components.

When you choose this option, it effectively isolates permission changes, ensuring that any related components, such as fields or objects, are not altered or deployed along with the permission modifications. This targeted approach helps maintain the integrity of the deployment process by allowing administrators to focus on specific aspects of the environment without the complexities of broader changes.

In contrast, options that suggest deploying or committing changes would involve a broader scope of action, which would not typically be the goal when the intention is to simply retrieve updates related to permissions. The "Retrieve Only" option is all about isolating those permission-related activities without affecting other elements in the release process.