What does the Pathfinder panel in Illustrator allow you to do?

The Pathfinder panel in Adobe Illustrator is primarily used for vector shape manipulation. It provides a set of powerful tools that enable users to create complex shapes by either combining multiple paths or dividing them into distinct parts. For example, with options like "Unite," you can merge various shapes into a single, cohesive object, while "Divide" allows you to separate overlapping shapes based on their intersections. This makes the Pathfinder panel essential for design tasks that require intricate shape creation and modification, promoting greater creativity and efficiency in the design process.

The other options, while related to different functionalities within Illustrator, do not accurately describe the role of the Pathfinder panel. Zooming in on specific parts of an image pertains to viewing adjustments rather than shape manipulation. Adjusting the opacity of an image pertains to transparency settings, which is handled in different panels. Exporting files to various formats is a function that deals with file management and format conversion, not shape creation.