The role of a database management system (DBMS) is to facilitate the creation, management, and manipulation of databases, providing users with a systematic way to store and retrieve data. A DBMS handles tasks such as data storage, security, backup, and recovery, ensuring data integrity and consistency. It also enables the execution of various queries and supports concurrent user access, allowing multiple users to work with the same data simultaneously. Additionally, a DBMS simplifies database design through schemas, facilitating efficient data organization and retrieval.