What is the purpose of a slide master in PowerPoint?

The purpose of a slide master in PowerPoint is to serve as a template that manages design elements for consistency across a presentation. This feature allows users to create a uniform look and feel by setting fonts, colors, backgrounds, and layouts that will automatically apply to all slides within the presentation. By modifying the slide master, any changes made will reflect on all associated slides, making it easier to maintain consistency and save time compared to editing each slide individually. This is particularly useful when dealing with larger presentations, as it ensures a professional appearance and an organized structure throughout.

In contrast, the other options focus on specific functionalities that do not pertain to the overarching design consistency provided by the slide master. For instance, adding animations, adjusting slide transitions, and inserting multimedia content are individual slide enhancements that enhance engagement but do not establish a cohesive design framework.