What is the primary function of loops in programming?

The primary function of loops in programming is to allow for repeated execution of code as long as a certain condition is met. This functionality is central to many programming tasks, as it enables developers to automate repetitive actions. For instance, if you need to process items in a list or perform a calculation multiple times, loops allow you to write the code once and execute it as many times as necessary without duplicating the code.

This feature is particularly useful in scenarios like iterating over collections, handling user inputs repeatedly until a specific condition is satisfied, or implementing algorithms that require repeated actions, such as sorting or searching. The effectiveness of loops to manage these tasks efficiently underscores their importance within programming constructs.