Which file type is typically excluded from version control to avoid deployment issues?

The .gitignore file is specifically designed to tell version control systems which files or directories to ignore. By listing certain files in the .gitignore file, developers can prevent those files from being tracked and committed to the repository, which helps avoid deployment issues.

For instance, environment variable files often contain sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, or other configuration settings that should not be exposed in version control. Excluding these from version control helps maintain security and prevent accidental disclosures.

Configuration files may vary between development and production environments, which also leads to potential deployment issues if the wrong version is used. Resource files can include images or other assets but typically do not cause the same deployment issues as configuration-specific files do.

Using the .gitignore file allows developers to maintain a clean repository, ensuring that only relevant files are tracked, minimizing the risk of introducing errors into the deployment process.