Explain how the concept of golden files is used in Flutter testing.

Golden files in Flutter testing are used to capture and compare the rendering of widgets. The test system generates an image of the widget, and this image is compared against a pre-defined "golden" version stored in a file. This ensures that the visual appearance of the widget remains consistent over time. Using golden files simplifies the testing process, especially for UI components, by providing a reference for expected outcomes. Understanding how to leverage golden files is crucial for maintaining visual consistency in Flutter applications.