Why do computer chargers need those big adapters? Why can’t you just connect the devices to the power outlet with a cable?
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Alternating current changes the direction of the flow of electricity many times a second, along with the voltage. Direct current stays at the same voltage and doesn’t change direction. High voltage AC is easier to transport over long distance power lines, but the way computers work is by setting specific voltages inside their components, which other components can detect. They differentiate between detecting a specific voltage or at a near 0 voltage and set their output voltage based on what they detect (the 1s and 0s people talk about come from here). This distinction needs direct current to work.
The power brick, as others have said, converts AC to DC and to the specific voltage the device needs. Desktop computers have the same setup, except their power brick is inside the case and instead of a single output cable that powers the computer, it has multiple. A laptop powers everything through the motherboard, a desktop powers some of its more power hungry components directly
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