What is the primary function of photosynthesis?

The primary function of photosynthesis is to create food for autotrophs. During this process, plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy, typically from the sun, into chemical energy in the form of glucose. Through the reactions of photosynthesis, specifically in the chloroplasts, these organisms transform carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, using sunlight as the driving force. The glucose produced serves as an essential source of energy and building material for the plant itself, as well as for other organisms that rely on autotrophs for food.

While absorbing carbon dioxide is a necessary component of photosynthesis, it is part of the larger objective of creating glucose. Similarly, the oxygen produced is a byproduct rather than the main goal. Storing glucose in roots, while an important function for energy storage, does not represent the primary purpose of the entire photosynthesis process itself, which is fundamentally about generating food.