What is the primary function of User Account Control in Windows?

The primary function of User Account Control (UAC) in Windows is to control user account access levels. UAC is a security feature designed to help prevent unauthorized changes to the operating system. By prompting users for permission or an administrator password before allowing actions that could affect the system's integrity or security, UAC helps to enforce the principle of least privilege. This means that users operate with standard permissions most of the time and only escalate to administrative privileges when necessary for specific tasks.

This feature acts as a safeguard against malware and unintentional system changes that could potentially compromise the security of the operating system. By managing how users can interact with their system and the permissions they are granted, UAC enhances the overall security framework of Windows environments.