In programming, what does the term 'Flow Control' refer to?

Flow control in programming pertains to how the execution sequence of statements is managed. This involves using various constructs, such as conditionals (like if-else statements), loops (like for and while loops), and jumps (such as break and continue) to dictate the order in which instructions are executed. By implementing flow control, programmers can create dynamic and responsive applications that can make decisions based on user input or other variables. For example, using an if statement allows a program to execute a particular block of code only if certain conditions are met, thereby changing the flow of execution. This capability is essential for creating complex programs that behave appropriately under various conditions and inputs.

In contrast, optimizing memory usage focuses on how effectively a program uses memory resources; designing user interfaces relates to how the application visually presents itself to users; and debugging is concerned with identifying and fixing errors in the code. While these concepts are important in programming, they do not directly relate to the management of execution flow, which is the core focus of flow control.