What is the purpose of the 'mkswap' command in Linux?

The 'mkswap' command is specifically designed to create a swap area on a specified device or file that can be used by the Linux operating system for swap space. When you run this command, it prepares the specified device or file to be used for swap, initializing it for swapping operations. This is a crucial step in configuring swap space because Linux needs a properly formatted area to use before it can be activated with the 'swapon' command.

In this context, while enabling swap space is part of the overall process, it is actually 'mkswap' that performs the foundational task of preparing an area to become swap, hence making the statement about its purpose accurate. Other options refer to actions taken after the swap space has already been created or concerns with managing swap priorities or deactivating existing swap space, which are not functions of 'mkswap'. Thus, 'Create a swap area' captures the main role of the command effectively.