What is a Reserved Word in programming?

A reserved word in programming refers to special words that are part of the programming language syntax and hold predefined meanings. These words are integral to the language and cannot be used as user-defined identifiers, such as variable names or function names. For instance, in languages like Python or Java, terms like "if," "else," "while," and "class" are reserved words. Their special functions are crucial for the structure and operation of programs, and allowing their use as identifiers would lead to ambiguity and errors in the code.

The other options do not accurately capture the definition of reserved words. Common variable names do not fit this category since they can be freely chosen by the programmer. Words that can be changed by the user would not qualify as reserved, as reserved words cannot be altered. Finally, words with no specific function do not align with the concept, as reserved words are specifically defined to serve distinct roles within the language.