The primary components of a food chain include producers, consumers, and decomposers. Producers, typically plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Consumers, categorized as primary (herbivores), secondary (carnivores), and tertiary, rely on other organisms for energy. Decomposers, such as fungi and bacteria, break down dead organic matter, returning nutrients to the ecosystem. This linear energy transfer underscores the interdependence of organisms within an ecosystem and plays a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance.