What is the primary function of the `sorted()` function?

The primary function of the sorted() function is to create a new sorted list from the elements of the original iterable. When you call sorted() with an iterable, it processes that iterable and returns a new list containing all the elements sorted in ascending order by default. This is beneficial because it does not modify the original iterable; instead, it produces a new list, allowing you to maintain the original order if needed. You can also customize the sorting order by providing additional parameters, such as a key function or a reverse flag, but its fundamental purpose is to return a sorted version of the input data.

The other options describe different functionalities that sorted() does not perform. Reversing the order of an iterable, appending items to a list, and removing duplicates are distinct operations that are handled by different functions or methods in Python.