What is the function of an optical drive?

An optical drive functions primarily by using lasers to read from and write to various optical discs, such as CDs, DVDs, or Blu-ray discs. This technology enables the storage and retrieval of data in a format that can be easily accessed and managed by computers and other devices. The use of lasers allows for precise data reading and writing, making optical drives effective for various applications, including media playback, software installation, and data backups.

The other options do not describe the function of an optical drive. Reading and writing data to hard drives is the role of a hard drive itself, while sending data over the internet is typically the function of network devices rather than an optical drive. Managing system memory efficiently pertains to the functions of the computer’s operating system and RAM, which is unrelated to the capabilities of an optical drive.