Developing a website, software, or application is a lot like putting on a Broadway show.
During a play’s development stage, the writers and director draft the script, plotting out every twist and turn. Next, it’s all about set design, rehearsals, choreography, costume fitting, and the like.
For your website, the staging environment is like your dress rehearsal. Once the show is ready, it’s time to bring it to the public. Cue the spotlight: This is the production environment, where the finished product takes center stage for real users to experience.
In the world of software development, particularly for ecommerce websites, staging and production are crucial phases that can mean the difference between a standing ovation (a surge in conversion rates) and a scathing review (that one-star review about the checkout process being “too complicated to figure out.”)
Here’s more on the role of staging and production in the software development journey and their key differences.
Staging vs. production: What’s the difference?
Staging and production environments serve distinct purposes: The staging environment is used to test a replica of the production environment before deploying changes to the live system. The production environment, on the other hand, is the active ecommerce store where customers shop, make purchases, and interact in real time. The code in this production environment should be bug-free, monitored, and optimized for performance.
Here are the primary differences between how staging and production deploy code, manage data, conduct ecommerce tests, and handle risk, user access, and security:
Code deployment
In the staging environment, code is deployed in a mirror of the actual web application to test new features and code updates before they go live. After testing the final code, you then deploy the live production version of the website for users to access.
Data management
The staging environment uses test databases or a copy of the production database, ensuring no impact on real data during testing.
In contrast, the production environment relies on live data from end-users, making it crucial to implement proper security measures—such as data input validation, restrictive access control lists, and encryption— to protect data integrity.
Risk management
In staging, integration testing detects errors or poor performance, and the software development cycle can be paused and sent back to developers for further improvements.
On the other hand, the live production environment requires rigorous risk management because performance or security issues can directly harm users and business operations. Any sudden changes to the production environment can result in major issues and must be carefully controlled and monitored.
Robust security protocols—such as encryption, firewall and intrusion detection/prevention, security audits and penetration testing, multifactor authentication, secure payment gateways, regular backups, and security updates—play a critical role in maintaining continuity and preserving user trust.
User access
The staging environment is exclusive to developers and testers. It’s the internal staging area for testing and getting feedback on feature development. Once your software or website reaches the production stage, it can be used by the public.
How staging and production fit into the web development process
Staging and production are different phases of the software development life cycle. Here’s an overview of the process:
1. Development
In this first phase, developers work on code, and code changes from multiple developers are merged using a version control system (like Git). Engineers use a process called continuous integration that automates these merges and tests to catch errors early on.
For testing code in the dev environment, developers use a local database (sometimes called a dummy database) with fake customer data.
2. QA
Next, the code passes to the quality assurance (QA) stage, also known as the test environment. Here, developers run tests on new code to identify and fix bugs. QA relies on automated testing (executing scripts without manual input) and unit testing (isolated tests on individual components) to find bugs before code moves to staging. For instance, you might test the shopping cart feature to make sure it functions correctly
3. Staging
Staging is where engineers assemble and test all components in an environment that mirrors the live website. After major version updates, this stage environment helps catch any major issues sneaking up before release. For example, you might test your login, shopping cart, and payment system together to verify smooth interaction.
The data used for testing in staging is configured differently from what’s used in the development environment. Staging is a controlled environment that replicates the live website using copies of real data. Think of it as a fake production environment—but more realistic than development data testing because it uses the same hardware, servers, databases, and caches as production. This setup allows for sitewide quality assurance before the code is released into production for public use
4. Production
Production (also known as the deployment environment) is where the final approved code is released to users.
How to use the staging environment
- Future testing
- Regression testing
- Content management system (CMS) testing
- Third-party integrations
- Performance testing
- Database integration testing
- Security testing
- User acceptance testing (UAT)
- Cross-browser and device testing
The staging environment is used for final testing and quality assurance before releasing a website, software, or application to the public. Staging environments provide a controlled space for comprehensive testing and validation, guaranteeing web software is fully prepared for live deployment.
Here are use cases for staging environments:
Feature testing
Staging includes detailed test scenarios that mimic real-world user interactions to pinpoint functional defects, user interface and user experience inconsistencies, and performance limitations. For example, when testing a new shopping cart feature, you could simulate adding items to the cart, applying discounts, and proceeding to checkout to make sure everything works as expected.
Regression testing
A regression is a bug that occurs after software updates or configuration tweaks, causing unintended side effects like slower loading times, crashes, and data corruption. Regression testing ensures that new code updates don’t break critical functionality, like login, search, and product browsing. Developers do this by re-running test cases and comparing the results to previous ones to identify discrepancies.
Content management system (CMS) testing
CMS platforms like Shopify help you manage your online store content, products, and customer experience without needing extensive coding knowledge. The staging environment is where you can test theme updates, plug-in installations, and content changes before deployment. With Shopify, you can use duplicate themes, fully functional development stores, and theme previews, to ensure everything works as expected before going live.
Third-party integrations
Ecommerce websites often combine third-party services like payment gateways, APIs, or content delivery networks (CDNs). Staging provides a realistic environment for developers to test these integrations before they impact live services or user data. It ensures that your store communicates with these tools correctly and securely. During testing, simulate a variety of scenarios: Test successful and failed payments, check for performance issues under heavy traffic, and ensure customers from different countries receive the right content and that payments are processed properly.
Performance testing
During the staging phase, you can use load testing tools to simulate real-world traffic and monitor web performance under stress and to identify load issues like slow loading times or server crashes before they affect real users.
Database integration testing
Ecommerce apps rely on databases to deliver content, like product details, customer information, and order history, so it’s important to test data in the staging environment to prevent errors and data corruption. This is where you test database migrations (organized, automated updates to your database’s structure) and front-end interactions (how a user interacts with the visible part of a web app).
Security testing
Staging verifies the effectiveness of security measures against hackers and malware threats. This includes penetration testing (simulated cyberattacks), vulnerability scanning (automated checking of systems, networks, or applications), security audits, and authentication and authorization testing (user login and access control mechanisms).
User acceptance testing (UAT)
UAT involves end-users testing your replica site in the staging environment to confirm it meets their expectations. By collecting their feedback, you can identify and resolve any remaining issues.
Cross-browser and device testing
Cross-browser and mobile device testing confirms the responsiveness and functionality across various browsers (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and mobile devices (e.g., iPhones, Android phones, tablets), guaranteeing accessibility and a consistent user experience for all visitors.
How to use the production environment
- User access
- Data collection and analysis
- Performance monitoring
- Real-time transaction processing
- Scheduled updates and deployments
- Security incident response
In the production environment, the curtain goes up as you deploy the final code and make the live platform accessible to end-users.
During this phase, the thoroughly tested code from staging is transferred to the live servers. If there are database changes, developers execute migrations to ensure data consistency and update configuration files. Real-time monitoring tools and alerts are set up to track performance and health. Finally, end users can access the updated web application.
At this stage, reliability, stability, and optimal performance are crucial.
Businesses implement production environment use cases in their own ways, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Here are some examples:
User access
In the live production environment, users search for products, manage their shopping carts, and complete the checkout process. You can optimize product pages and category pages and use a CDN to deliver images and static content quickly. A secure, PCI DSS–compliant payment gateway ensures a smooth checkout experience. To gauge user satisfaction, you can analyze metrics like bounce rate, exit pages, time on page, conversion rate, cart abandonment rate, heat maps, error tracking, and customer churn.
Data collection and analysis
Analytics tools like Shopify Analytics and Google Analytics collect data on user behavior, traffic patterns, and conversion rates in the production environment, providing valuable insights to optimize website performance and user experience.
Performance monitoring
Monitor for performance issues and errors to maintain uptime access. This includes real-time tracking of website speed, error rates, and user behavior, allowing for quick resolution of emerging issues with minimal disruption.
Real-time transaction processing
The production environment processes all sales transactions, including order placement, payment processing, and inventory updates.
Scheduled updates and deployments
For a smooth transition with minimal disruption to users, web developers deploy tested and validated code changes from staging to the production environment during scheduled maintenance windows.
Security incident response
In the production environment, you respond to data breaches or cyberattacks by quickly isolating affected systems, containing the damage, eradicating threats, recovering data, and analyzing the incident to avoid it happening again.
Staging vs. production FAQ
Is staging the same as the pre-production environment?
Yes, staging is synonymous with the pre-production environment. The staging environment is a replica of the production environment used for integration testing before deployment.
Are staging and UAT the same?
User acceptance testing (UAT) is not quite the same thing as staging, although UAT often takes place within the staging environment. Think of staging as the environment itself, while UAT is a specific test type you can conduct there. In this case, end-user testing ensures that the web application meets user requirements and expectations.
Is UAT done in production?
UAT in production is generally discouraged. However, some companies may deploy new features to a few users in production to gather real-world feedback—an approach known as canary testing, like the proverbial canary in the coal mine. But it’s risky. Robust monitoring and rollback plans are necessary to minimize the risk of disrupting the user experience.
