What is the purpose of a Layer Mask in Photoshop?

A Layer Mask in Photoshop serves the purpose of selectively hiding or revealing portions of a layer. This non-destructive editing feature allows users to control the visibility of different parts of a layer without permanently altering the original image. By painting on the Layer Mask with black, users can hide parts of the layer, while painting with white reveals those hidden areas back. This flexibility is crucial in compositing images, blending effects, and making complex adjustments while maintaining the integrity of the original layers.

The ability to modify a Layer Mask at any time means that artists can iterate on their designs, making adjustments as needed without the fear of losing original image data. This makes Layer Masks a powerful tool for visual storytelling, allowing for seamless integration of elements within a composition.

The other options do not reflect the core functionality of a Layer Mask. Permanently deleting parts of a layer would eliminate that data entirely, which is contrary to the purpose of using a Layer Mask. Combining multiple images is usually achieved through layer blending and adjustment layers, rather than through masking. Creating vector paths pertains to the Pen Tool and shape layers, which is a different feature set within Photoshop.