What is the primary purpose of a version control system?

The primary purpose of a version control system is to track changes over time in a file or set of files. This is essential for managing the evolution of software projects, as it allows developers to see what changes were made, who made them, and when they occurred. This capability is crucial for collaboration in teams, providing a historical context for the development process and enabling the ability to revert to previous versions if necessary. By maintaining a history of changes, version control systems support better project management and coordination among developers, allowing for improved workflows and reduced risks of errors during development.

The other options presented, while relevant in their own contexts, do not align with the fundamental purpose of version control systems. For example, improving internet connectivity relates to network performance rather than versioning files, and automating software testing is a separate aspect of the development pipeline that deals with quality assurance, not version management. Managing user access is related to security and permissions within software applications, which falls outside the scope of version control functionalities.