What is a common function managed by databases in web applications?

A common function managed by databases in web applications is user account management. This involves creating, reading, updating, and deleting user accounts and their associated data within an application. Databases are designed to efficiently store and retrieve structured information, making them ideal for managing user information such as usernames, passwords, profiles, and access rights.

In a typical web application, user account management includes functionalities like user registration, login verification, and password recovery, all of which rely on the database to maintain secure and organized storage of user details. Managing user accounts through a database also allows for the implementation of security practices, such as encryption of sensitive data and the enforcement of access controls.

The other options relate to functions that are generally outside the primary focus of database management in web applications. File storage optimization pertains more to efficient management of file systems rather than database functions. System performance monitoring, while critical for overall application health, typically involves different tools and metrics outside the realm of database management. Network configuration management deals with the setup and maintenance of networking hardware and software, which is also not a direct function of database management within web applications.