What is the primary purpose of the 'fetch' API in JavaScript?

The primary purpose of the 'fetch' API in JavaScript is to make network requests and handle responses. It allows developers to easily communicate with servers to retrieve or send data. By using the 'fetch' API, you can perform GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE requests, enabling interaction with different APIs and web services.

This functionality is essential in web development, as it allows for the dynamic updating of web pages without requiring a full page reload, facilitating a more seamless user experience. The 'fetch' API returns a promise that resolves to the response of the request, making it easier to work with asynchronous operations in JavaScript.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the purpose of the 'fetch' API. Creating new JavaScript functions pertains to function definition and scope, while managing user authentication involves handling security protocols, neither of which aligns with making network requests. Manipulating DOM elements efficiently focuses on changing the structure or content of a web page, which, while important, is outside the scope of what the 'fetch' API is designed to do.