Which statement best describes a for loop?

• A. It defines a function.
• B. It creates a new database table.
• C. It conditionally executes code based on a test.
• D. A block of code that runs a set number of times.

Answer: (D)

A for loop is a control structure that repeats a block of code a set number of times (or over a sequence). It usually includes initialization, a condition, and an update, so the block runs as long as the condition holds and the iteration advances toward termination. This behavior directly describes a block of code that runs a set number of times, which is the hallmark of a for loop. The other descriptions refer to different constructs: defining a function, creating a database table, or executing code only when a condition is true, none of which capture the repetitive iteration characteristic of for loops. For example, you might run a body of code five times using a loop like for i from 1 to 5, do something.