What does a Central Processing Unit (CPU) primarily manage?

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is often referred to as the "brain" of the computer, and its primary responsibilities revolve around executing instructions from programs and processing data. Specifically, it manages program control, which involves fetching instructions from memory, decoding them, and then executing those instructions in the proper sequence. Additionally, the CPU handles data processing, performing arithmetic and logical operations to manipulate that data as specified by the program.

This understanding of the CPU's role highlights its centrality in overall system function, differentiating it from components like input and output devices, which serve different purposes, and data storage, which focuses on long-term data retention rather than active processing. Network communication also occurs through dedicated hardware and protocols, rather than being a direct responsibility of the CPU itself. Thus, the correct answer accurately reflects the CPU's critical functions in a computer system.