What functionality does 'user roles' provide in OutSystems?

User roles in OutSystems are essential for managing user permissions and access control within applications. This functionality allows developers to assign specific roles to users, enabling them to restrict or allow access to various features and data based on the user's role. For example, an application might have distinct roles such as ‘Admin’, ‘User’, or ‘Guest’, each with different levels of permissions, ensuring that sensitive operations are only available to authorized individuals.

This role-based approach is crucial for maintaining security within an application. By defining roles, you can enforce which users have the capability to view, add, edit, or delete data, contributing to a more secure and well-managed application architecture. This infrastructure not only protects user data but also allows for a more organized and user-friendly experience, as users will see only the options that are relevant to their roles.

Other options like enhancing user interface designs, streamlining database queries, and standardizing application deployments do not directly pertain to the functionality of user roles. Enhancements to user interfaces involve design choices that relate to the visual aspects of an application, while database queries stem more from performance optimization rather than user management. Application deployments are about how updates are handled and do not influence user access to features within the application.