What is the purpose of a device driver?

A device driver serves a crucial role in computing by facilitating communication between the operating system and hardware components. It acts as a translator between the high-level instructions from the OS and the low-level operations required by the hardware, ensuring that various devices such as printers, graphics cards, and network adapters can operate correctly within the system.

This communication is essential because hardware components are built to perform specific functions that the operating system needs to manage properly. Without the appropriate device driver, the OS would not be able to send commands to the hardware, or it might misinterpret the data being sent back, leading to errors or the device not functioning at all.

The other options presented do not align with the primary function of a device driver. Managing system updates pertains more to maintaining software versions and security patches rather than hardware interaction. Regular maintenance of a computer involves tasks such as disk cleanup and defragmentation, which do not directly involve how devices communicate with the OS. Securing a network from threats relates to cybersecurity measures rather than the functioning of hardware through drivers.