What function does the Cloud Build service provide when developing applications?

The Cloud Build service plays a crucial role in the development lifecycle by allowing developers to build and package their applications efficiently. Specifically, its primary function is to build container images from source code. This process involves taking the source files, running predefined build steps to compile the code (if necessary), and then creating a container image that encapsulates the application along with its dependencies.

Cloud Build supports various build configurations, including Dockerfiles and Build configuration files, enabling developers to customize the build process according to their requirements. Additionally, after building, these container images can be uploaded to Google Container Registry or Artifact Registry, making them readily available for deployment in cloud environments like Google Kubernetes Engine or App Engine.

This functionality integrates seamlessly into CI/CD workflows, allowing teams to automate the process of building and deploying applications, thus fostering efficient development practices. The ability to create reliable and reproducible builds is vital in modern application development and deployment scenarios.