What type of loop is designed to execute a block of code a specific number of times?

The for loop is specifically designed to execute a block of code a predetermined number of times. This type of loop is particularly useful when the number of iterations is known before the loop starts executing.

In a for loop, you typically initialize a counter variable, specify a condition that continues to run while the variable meets certain criteria, and include an increment or update statement that modifies the counter after each iteration. This structure allows for concise and clear control over the number of times the loop will run, making it ideal for scenarios like iterating through elements in a collection or performing a task for a fixed count.

In contrast, a while loop is generally used when the number of iterations is not known beforehand and depends on a condition being true. Conditional statements evaluate conditions but do not themselves loop through code execution multiple times. Functions can encapsulate code to be reused, but they do not inherently control iterations in the way a loop does.