Why is chlorine the oxidizing agent in the formation of sodium chloride?

In the formation of sodium chloride ($2\text{Na}+{\text{Cl}}_2\to 2\text{NaCl}$), chlorine acts as the oxidizing agent because it consumes electrons during the chemical reaction.1

In this oxidation-reduction reaction, electrons are transferred from sodium atoms to chlorine atoms. Because oxidation is defined as the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons, the sodium atom is oxidized while the chlorine atom is reduced. As a halogen, chlorine possesses a high electron affinity, which drives its tendency to accept electrons from metals like sodium. By accepting these electrons, chlorine facilitates the oxidation of the sodium, thereby fulfilling the role of the oxidizing agent.12