What is the main purpose of digital signal processing?

The main purpose of digital signal processing is to analyze and manipulate digital signals for various applications. This encompasses a range of functions, including filtering, data compression, signal enhancement, and feature extraction, which are essential for improving the quality and efficiency of signals in applications like audio processing, telecommunications, image processing, and more.

By converting analog signals to digital, which is another choice, the process of digital signal processing can begin, but the primary focus is on manipulating those digital signals rather than merely performing the conversion. Storing digital data might be an aspect related to how processed signals can be preserved, but it does not capture the essence of what digital signal processing entails. Increasing data transmission speed is another separate goal that involves various techniques, but is not the fundamental purpose of digital signal processing itself.