Burp Suite is primarily used for what function in web application security?

Burp Suite is a comprehensive tool designed specifically for penetration testing and security assessment of web applications. It provides a wide range of features that allow security professionals to identify and exploit vulnerabilities within web applications effectively. The tool offers capabilities such as interception of proxy traffic, scanning for vulnerabilities, and automated testing, which are essential for securing applications against attacks.

In the context of web application security, Burp Suite allows assessors to analyze requests and responses between the browser and the web server. This is crucial for discovering misconfigurations, identifying security flaws, and understanding the application's behavior under potential attack scenarios. The focus on penetration testing underscores the suite's purpose as a tool for actively assessing the security posture of web applications rather than managing databases, mapping networks, or encrypting files, which are outside its primary scope and function.