What is the purpose of reverse engineering?

The purpose of reverse engineering is primarily focused on taking apart products to understand their functions. This process involves disassembling a product to analyze its design, components, and the way it operates. By doing so, engineers and designers can gain insights into the technology and methods used in the original product, which can inform the development of new products or improvements on existing ones.

This method is commonly used in various fields, including software development, mechanical engineering, and product design. It allows for a better understanding of functionality, quality, and design characteristics, which can lead to innovation or cost reduction in manufacturing.

The other options present different focuses. Creating new designs from scratch involves original conception rather than analysis of existing products. Building prototypes without documentation does not utilize the detailed understanding that comes from reverse engineering. Testing products for safety compliance is concerned with regulatory aspects rather than the technical understanding of design and function offered by reverse engineering.