What is the purpose of User Account Control (UAC) in Windows?

User Account Control (UAC) is primarily designed to enhance the security of the Windows operating system by preventing unauthorized changes. When a program attempts to make changes that could affect system settings or the performance of the OS, UAC prompts the user for permission. This acts as a safeguard against malicious software or unauthorized users trying to alter critical system configurations without user knowledge or consent.

Prompting for permission helps ensure that actions requiring elevated privileges, such as installing software or changing settings, are consciously approved by the user, thereby mitigating the risk of accidental or malicious changes to the operating system. This function not only enhances security but also ensures a level of user awareness regarding potentially impactful operations.

While managing user accounts and having antivirus protection are important aspects of system security and functionality, they do not directly relate to the specific role of UAC. Additionally, enhancing system performance isn't a purpose of UAC, as its focus is solely on permission and privilege elevation.