What is the purpose of the `@api` decorator in LWC?

The @api decorator in Lightning Web Components (LWC) serves the important function of exposing properties and methods to child components. This allows for the creation of reusable components that can communicate and interact with each other effectively. When a property or a method is decorated with @api, it becomes part of the public API of the component, meaning that it can be accessed from parent components.

For instance, when a parent component needs to manipulate data or invoke a method in a child component, the @api decorated properties and methods provide a structured way to perform these actions. This promotes better encapsulation and modular design within your applications, enabling inter-component communication while maintaining a clear boundary of functionality.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the function of the @api decorator. Internal component methods are typically not exposed to the outside scope, and therefore do not use the @api decorator. Enhancing component styling is managed through CSS and does not involve the use of decorators. Handling lifecycle events falls under the scope of various lifecycle hooks in LWC, like connectedCallback, but it is not related to the @api decorator's purpose of exposing properties or methods.