What is the primary goal of the DROID tool?

The primary goal of the DROID tool is to identify file formats automatically. DROID, which stands for Digital Record Object Identification, is designed to help organizations recognize the file types of digital objects, which is essential for proper digital preservation and management. By using a combination of file signatures and metadata, DROID analyzes files and provides information about their format and characteristics.

Understanding file formats is crucial because it helps archivists and digital preservationists determine how to handle, preserve, and ensure access to digital materials over time. This automatic identification plays a significant role in digital curation by facilitating the assessment of file integrity and assisting in the development of preservation strategies appropriate for specific file types.

The other options do not align with the primary function of DROID, as it is not focused on file recovery, format conversion, or compression. These tasks may be performed by other tools specifically designed for those purposes, but identifying file formats remains the central aim of DROID.