Which of the following describes a device driver?

A device driver is specifically a software component designed to facilitate communication between the operating system and hardware peripherals. It acts as a translator or intermediary, allowing the operating system to send commands to hardware devices like printers, graphics cards, or storage drives, and enabling those devices to communicate status and data back to the operating system.

In this context, while enhancing video performance relates to graphics drivers specifically, it does not cover the broader definition of what a device driver does. Managing network connections pertains more to network drivers or applications, and tools for system diagnostics serve different functions, primarily focusing on troubleshooting and system analysis rather than communication with hardware. Thus, the description of a device driver as a software component for communication with peripherals accurately captures its core role in the computing environment.