What is the primary function of HyperText Markup Language (HTML)?

The primary function of HyperText Markup Language (HTML) is to create documents for the World Wide Web. HTML serves as the standard markup language that structures web content, allowing text, images, links, and other elements to be organized in a format that browsers can interpret and display to users. It defines the structure of web pages by using a combination of elements and tags, which dictate how the content appears and behaves in a web environment. This foundational role makes HTML essential for building websites and delivering information online, ensuring that users can navigate and interact with web pages effectively.

Other options describe functions that are outside the scope of HTML's purpose. For example, user authentication is typically managed by technologies or protocols separate from HTML. Network protocols govern the standards that dictate how data is transmitted over a network, which also falls outside HTML's role. Data encryption is related to securing information but is handled by different protocols and technologies unrelated to the core function of HTML.