What role does the External Data Bus have in a computer?

The External Data Bus (EDB) plays a crucial role in a computer by facilitating the transfer of data between various components. It serves as a communication pathway that allows data to travel to and from the CPU, memory, and peripheral devices. This bus is essential for enabling the exchange of information, ensuring that different parts of the computer can work together effectively.

For instance, when the CPU needs to read data from RAM or send information to a storage device, it does so via the External Data Bus. This process involves transmitting bits of data across the bus, which is made up of multiple wires that carry signals. Therefore, the proper functioning of the External Data Bus is vital for maintaining the overall performance and efficiency of the computer system, as it directly impacts how quickly and effectively data can be communicated between different components.

The other options suggest roles that do not accurately describe the primary function of the External Data Bus. Long-term data storage is associated with devices like hard drives or SSDs, processing complex calculations is primarily the function of the CPU, and managing output to display is typically handled by the graphics card and other output devices.