What is the primary purpose of a computer network?

The primary purpose of a computer network is resource sharing, which is essential for enabling multiple users to access and share various resources, such as files, applications, and hardware devices like printers and servers. Networks facilitate collaboration by allowing users to communicate and exchange data efficiently, contributing to increased productivity and better resource management.

In a networked environment, resources can be managed more effectively because they can be centralized and accessed by multiple users rather than being tied to individual machines. This capability supports various applications, including collaborative work, data sharing among teams, and the use of centralized software solutions that benefit from a networked infrastructure.

While data backup, game development, and web hosting certainly involve network connectivity and can benefit from some network features, they do not encompass the primary role of a network, which is fundamentally about connecting multiple devices for the sharing of resources and data.