Why is live reload important during development?

Live reload is significant during development primarily because it enables automatic updates without the need to restart the server. This feature enhances the development experience by allowing developers to see changes in their application immediately after they make modifications to the code. When a file is changed, live reload automatically detects those changes and refreshes the web application in the browser, leading to a more efficient workflow.

This immediate feedback loop is crucial in modern web development, where iterations are frequent. Developers can make changes and quickly validate that their updates work as expected, significantly speeding up the development process. This functionality not only helps in maintaining the developer's focus but also minimizes interruptions that could arise from manually restarting the server and reloading the browser.

As for the other options, while they refer to beneficial practices in development, they do not directly relate to the primary function of live reload. Reducing build process wait time pertains to optimization techniques rather than live reload features. Automatically running tests during code changes is often associated with continuous integration tools rather than the live reload mechanism itself. Real-time collaboration is facilitated by different tools and setups, but it is not a function provided directly by live reload.