Which of the following technologies is primarily used for audio and video output from a laptop to a display?

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is primarily used for transmitting high-quality audio and video signals from a laptop to an external display. It supports both video and audio in a single cable, making it a popular choice for connecting laptops to TVs, monitors, and projectors. The technology is designed to carry high-definition video and multi-channel audio from various devices, offering a straightforward and efficient method for users to enjoy rich media content on larger screens.

Other options, while capable of transmitting audio and video, serve different purposes or have additional functionalities. USB connectors can transmit video signals in some specific configurations (like USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode), but they are primarily designed for data transfer and peripheral connections, not standardized audio/video output. Thunderbolt provides high-speed data transfer and can also carry video signals, but it is more commonly associated with connecting high-performance storage and peripherals than being a primary audio/video output method. DisplayPort is another digital display interface that supports video and audio, similar to HDMI, but it is often found in desktop environments rather than prevalent in laptops as HDMI. Thus, HDMI stands out as the most commonly used technology for straightforward audio and video output from laptops to displays.