What is the function of device drivers in a workstation?

Device drivers serve a crucial role in a workstation by acting as intermediaries between the operating system and hardware components. Their primary function is to enable the operating system to communicate effectively with hardware devices such as printers, graphics cards, storage drives, and input devices like keyboards and mice. This communication is essential for the operating system to send commands to the hardware and receive data from it, ensuring that devices work correctly and efficiently within the system.

When a new hardware device is connected, the operating system relies on the appropriate device driver to recognize the device, configure settings, and manage data transmission. Specifically, the driver translates the high-level commands from the operating system into machine-level instructions that the hardware can understand.

This capability of device drivers is fundamental to achieving seamless interaction between software applications and physical devices, ensuring the proper functioning of the entire workstation. The other options provided do not accurately capture the primary role of device drivers in system performance and hardware interaction.