What is the purpose of a for loop?

The purpose of a for loop is to iterate over a sequence and execute code for each element. For loops are a fundamental construct in programming that enable developers to execute a block of code repeatedly for each item in a collection, such as an array, list, or range of numbers. This allows for efficient processing of data without the need to manually write repetitive code for each element.

For instance, if you have a list of numbers and you want to perform a calculation on each number (like summing them or printing them), a for loop allows the code to be concise and maintainable. The loop will automatically handle the transition from one element to the next, simplifying the programming task and reducing the potential for errors when compared to writing separate lines for each action on each element.

Using loops is effective in many situations, such as when dealing with large data sets or performing repetitive tasks, making them an essential tool for programming and computational tasks. The other options do not reflect the iterative functionality that defines a for loop.