What is the primary function of a device driver?

The primary function of a device driver is to facilitate communication between the operating system (OS) and hardware components of a computer. Device drivers are specialized software applications that translate the OS commands into a language that the hardware can understand, and vice versa. This allows the operating system to control the hardware and utilize its features without needing to understand the intricate details of how each device operates.

For instance, when you connect a printer to your computer, the operating system uses the printer's device driver to send print jobs in a format that the printer can process. Without the device driver, the OS would be unable to effectively communicate with the printer, resulting in a failure to print.

Other options do not accurately reflect the primary role of a device driver. While managing security settings, controlling user access, and monitoring system performance are important functions in the realm of operating systems, they are handled by different components and processes, not by device drivers.