C*-algebras A of compact operators are characterized as those C*-algebras of coefficients of Hilbert C*-modules for which (i) every bounded A-linear operator between two Hilbert A-modules possesses an adjoint operator, (ii) the kernels of all bounded A-linear operators between Hilbert A-modules are orthogonal summands, (iii) the images of all bounded A-linear operators with closed range between Hilbert A-modules are orthogonal summands, and (iv) for every Hilbert A-module every Hilbert A-submodule is a topological summand. Thus, the theory of Hilbert C*-modules over C*-algebras of compact operators has similarities with the theory of Hilbert spaces. In passing, we obtain a general closed graph theorem for bounded module operators on arbitrary Hilbert C*-modules.
