Time it right and one can be raising some pretty good plants during the last months of winter and have very large tomato plants ready to put into the ground when it warms, I think it is best to time it to where the plant is not producing a tomato yet when it is put into the ground though, which they will do if the planting is delayed.
Indoor plants need to be hardened a little before put into the ground also, so that they can build up a little resistance to the direct sun and to wind, being sent straight to a full day of sun can sunburn them.
It’s my understanding that even tomatoes don’t necessarily like full direct sun.
Another option after hardening them off some is to put floating row covers over them or the tomato cages. I clothes pin them on to keep them there.
It works well for peas and lettuce, too, when we get a ridiculous hot spell.