What role does a software application play in a computer?

The correct answer highlights that software applications are designed to perform specific tasks for the user. This encompasses a wide range of functionalities, from word processing and data analysis to graphic design and game development. Software translates user commands into actions carried out by the computer, allowing users to interact with the hardware effectively.

In contrast, while storage capacity is essential for a computer's operation, it is primarily provided by hardware components like hard drives or solid-state drives, not software itself. Similarly, managing hardware components typically falls under the domain of system software, such as the operating system, rather than being a direct function of applications. Regulating power consumption is also not a task attributed to software applications but instead relates to how hardware and operating systems manage energy use within a device. Thus, the emphasis on performing specific tasks for the user correctly captures the primary role of software applications in a computer system.