What is the purpose of a version control system?

A version control system is fundamentally designed to track changes in code and manage collaboration among multiple developers. This system allows programmers to keep a historical record of changes made to the codebase, enabling them to revert to previous versions if needed and to understand how the code has evolved over time. It facilitates teamwork by allowing multiple developers to work on the same project simultaneously without overwriting each other's changes. Through features like branching and merging, developers can experiment with new ideas or features in isolation and later integrate them back into the main project when they are ready.

While other options address various aspects related to programming and code management, they do not encapsulate the primary function of a version control system, which is to track and manage changes in code effectively. Compiling code relates to transforming source code into executable programs, graphical representations pertain to how code is visually structured and presented, and securing code against unauthorized access is more about application security than version control itself.