What is a key feature of expansion slots on a motherboard?

Expansion slots on a motherboard play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality and capabilities of a computer. Their primary purpose is to allow users to add new hardware features, such as graphics cards, sound cards, network cards, and other expansion cards. This modularity is essential in personal computers and workstations, as it enables upgrades and customization according to the user's needs.

By using expansion slots, hardware developers can create various add-on cards that users can install without replacing the entire motherboard or system unit. This flexibility helps in maintaining the relevance and performance of a computer over time, as users can keep up with technological advancements and integrate the latest hardware.

The other options relate to different aspects of computer hardware but do not accurately describe the function of expansion slots. For instance, while peripheral devices interface with the system, the slots themselves do not house these devices. Instead, they provide the connectors needed for the hardware to be integrated into the motherboard. Storing data permanently is a function of storage devices rather than expansion slots, and cooling the CPU is typically managed by dedicated cooling systems and not through expansion slots. Thus, the correct understanding of expansion slots underscores their role in hardware expansion and upgradeability.