What action would best ensure an application is ready for release to production?

Submitting the application to Quality Assurance (QA) is a crucial step in the software development lifecycle that directly impacts the readiness of the application for production. QA involves various testing processes, including functional testing, performance testing, and security testing. This step ensures that the application meets all specified requirements, functions as intended, and is free from critical bugs or vulnerabilities that could affect its performance in a production environment.

Through this rigorous testing phase, any issues or potential improvements can be identified and addressed before the application goes live. This not only enhances the application's overall quality but also mitigates risks associated with deploying software that has not been thoroughly vetted. Ensuring that the application is tested and validated by a dedicated QA team signifies a commitment to delivering a reliable and secure product to end-users.

While other options may contribute to the overall security and functionality of the application, such as limiting the use of third-party libraries or preventing data exposure queries, these measures alone do not replace the comprehensive evaluation of the application that QA provides. Obfuscation of source code can help protect intellectual property but doesn't directly verify the application's operational readiness.