What is the primary purpose of a for loop in programming?

The primary purpose of a for loop in programming is to execute a block of code a specific number of times. For loops are particularly designed for situations where the number of iterations is known ahead of time. They establish a clear starting point, a termination condition, and a way to increment or change the variable controlling the loop.

This structure allows programmers to easily manage repetitive tasks, such as iterating through arrays or collections, where the exact number of elements is predetermined. Since the for loop clearly defines how many times it will run, it lends itself well to situations where you need to perform a repetitive action a set number of times.

In contrast, other looping constructs, such as while loops or do-while loops, are more suited for scenarios where the number of iterations is not known in advance and depends on a certain condition being met. The additional options related to handling exceptions are unrelated to the primary function of a for loop, which is strictly about executing code repetitively within a defined range.