What is a key advantage of using symbols in Adobe Illustrator?

Using symbols in Adobe Illustrator provides a significant advantage by keeping file sizes smaller and allowing for easy manipulation. Symbols are essentially reusable graphics that can help streamline your artwork. When you create a symbol, you're essentially creating a master copy of a graphic element. Instead of duplicating the same graphic multiple times within your design—which would increase the overall file size—using a symbol means that Illustrator references that single master copy. This not only reduces the size of the file but also makes it easier to manage the artwork. If you need to update or change the symbol, you can modify the master symbol, and all instances of that symbol in your artwork will automatically update as well. This enhances workflow efficiency, especially in complex projects with repeated elements.

The other options do not apply as accurately to the advantages of symbols. Symbols do not increase file size; in fact, they do the opposite. While changing color is a feature of symbols, this is just one of many benefits; the primary advantage lies in their reusability and the efficiency they bring to file management. Additionally, symbols can be used multiple times throughout the document, further emphasizing their usefulness rather than being limited to a single instance.