What is the purpose of a Network Interface Card (NIC)?

The purpose of a Network Interface Card (NIC) is to facilitate a wired network connection. A NIC serves as the interface between a computer and a network, allowing the computer to communicate over the network using Ethernet or other protocols. It converts data from the computer into a format suitable for transmission over the network and vice versa. This hardware component is essential for establishing and maintaining network connections, enabling devices to send and receive data.

In contrast, while the other options mention functions related to storage, graphics, or memory management, none of them pertain to the role of a NIC. Storage for network files would typically be handled by network-attached storage (NAS) or file servers. Enhancing graphical performance is the task of a graphics card, and managing system memory involves the system's RAM and CPU, which are separate from the functionality of a NIC.