What is the primary benefit of using replication in MongoDB?

The primary benefit of using replication in MongoDB is to enhance data availability. Replication involves creating copies of data across multiple MongoDB servers, forming a replica set. This setup ensures that if one server fails or experiences downtime, other servers with the same data can continue to provide access, minimizing the risk of data loss and service interruption. Enhanced data availability is crucial for applications that require high reliability and uptime, as it allows for failover and redundancy.

In contrast, while improving read performance and managing network traffic can be considerations in a distributed database system, they are not the fundamental purpose of replication in MongoDB. Increasing storage capacity is also not directly related to the role of replication, as replication primarily focuses on data redundancy and availability rather than expanding the overall storage capabilities of the database system.