Why is it important to ensure compatibility between test and production servers?

Ensuring compatibility between test and production servers is crucial for maintaining consistent behavior and performance. When both environments are aligned in terms of configuration, software versions, and dependencies, it significantly reduces the likelihood of discrepancies arising during the deployment process. This consistency means that any features and fixes tested in the test environment will behave the same way when released to production, leading to a more reliable and predictable user experience.

Inconsistent environments can lead to issues such as bugs, performance degradations, or other unexpected behavior that might not be evident until the code is live, causing delays and increased costs in fixing those issues post-deployment. Thus, having compatible servers means that developers can be confident that what works in testing will also work in production, supporting overall quality assurance and operational efficiency.