Here's why:
* Protection: The cell wall provides a rigid outer layer that helps protect the cell from mechanical damage and changes in osmotic pressure.
* Support: It gives the cell its shape and structural integrity, especially important in plants and bacteria that lack a cytoskeleton.
It's important to note that not all cells have cell walls. Animal cells, for example, lack cell walls and rely on their cell membrane for support. Plant cells, bacteria, fungi, and some protists have cell walls.
