A canary release is a software deployment strategy where a new version of an application is gradually rolled out to a small subset of users before a full release. This approach allows developers to monitor the performance and stability of the new version in a real-world environment while minimizing the impact of potential issues. The term comes from the practice of using canaries in coal mines to detect toxic gases. If the canary showed signs of distress, miners would know to evacuate. Similarly, in a canary release, if problems arise, developers can quickly address them before the update reaches all users.