What is a YANG leaf-list used for?

A YANG leaf-list is specifically designed to represent a collection of leaf nodes of a specific type within a data model. In YANG, a leaf is a singular data element that holds a value, while a leaf-list allows multiple instances of such elements to be grouped together under a single identifier. This can be particularly useful for model configurations that require the handling of sets of items, such as a list of IP addresses or usernames, where the number of entries is dynamic and can vary based on user configuration.

This capability to manage multiple instances allows for greater flexibility in data representation and management, making it easier to collect and validate related data points that share the same type. The other options do not capture the specific purpose of a leaf-list: while some components may touch on elements of YANG or NETCONF, they do not accurately describe the primary function of a leaf-list, which focuses on grouping individual entries of the same data type.