Here's a breakdown of its key roles:

* Structural Support: The cell wall acts as a rigid outer layer that helps maintain the cell's shape and prevents it from bursting due to internal pressure (turgor pressure). This is especially important for plant cells, which lack a cytoskeleton as strong as animal cells.

* Protection: The cell wall acts as a barrier against physical damage and pathogens. It also helps regulate the movement of molecules into and out of the cell.

* Cell-to-Cell Communication: In plants, the cell wall plays a role in communication between adjacent cells through specialized structures called plasmodesmata.

It's important to note that not all cells have cell walls. Animal cells, for example, lack a cell wall and rely on their cell membrane for structural support and protection.