snap channel
also: release channel, snap track
A release track or version stream for a snap package that determines which version of the software a user receives when they install or update. Channels like stable, candidate, beta, and edge allow developers to roll out updates progressively.
A snap channel is a named publication stream for a snap package, similar to software release branches. When you install a snap, you specify which channel to follow, and updates come from that channel automatically. Common channels are stable (production-ready), candidate (release candidates), beta (testing), and edge (latest development builds).
For example, installing snap install myapp --channel=beta installs the beta version of myapp and will only receive beta updates. Later, switching to stable via snap refresh myapp --channel=stable moves the package to production releases. This allows developers to test updates with early adopters before pushing to all users.
Channels enable risk management: users who need stability stay on stable, while enthusiasts can help test new features on edge. Each snap can maintain multiple channels independently with different version numbers.