What is the function of the 'sudo' command?

The 'sudo' command is designed to allow a permitted user to execute commands with superuser privileges, which is essential for performing administrative tasks that require higher-level permissions. In many Linux distributions, users operate under a set of restricted permissions to help safeguard the system. To carry out actions that could potentially affect the entire system—such as installing software, changing system configurations, or managing user accounts—users need elevated privileges.

When a user prefixes a command with 'sudo', the system temporarily grants them these elevated privileges for that command. This mechanism not only enhances security by minimizing the amount of time a user operates with superuser rights but also provides a log of commands executed with 'sudo', which can help in tracking and auditing system usage.

Other options provided do not fully encapsulate the primary functionality of the 'sudo' command. For instance, while modifying user permissions is an administrative task that might require 'sudo', it's not the command's primary purpose. Similarly, switching user accounts typically involves the 'su' command, which functions differently than 'sudo'. Updating the system does not specifically relate to 'sudo,' as such operations can be performed with or without using 'sudo', depending on the user's permissions and the command used.