What is the primary function of a bus in a computer system?

The primary function of a bus in a computer system is data transmission between components. A bus acts as a communication pathway that connects various parts of the computer, such as the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices. It enables the transfer of data, control signals, and addresses between these components, facilitating effective interaction and coordination.

Without a bus, components would struggle to communicate with one another, resulting in a significant reduction in system performance and efficiency. The design of the bus allows multiple components to be connected, sharing the same communication pathway, which simplifies the architecture of the computer system.

While power management, memory storage, and device input/output are important functions in a computer system, they are not the primary role of a bus. Power management relates more to how power is supplied and managed within the system; memory storage refers to where data is held for quick access; and device input/output pertains to how data is sent to and received from peripheral devices. The bus specifically focuses on enabling the transfer of data among these various hardware components.