What is the function of a 'for' loop?

The function of a 'for' loop is to iterate over a sequence, such as a list, tuple, or string, and execute a block of code for each item in that sequence. This looping construct allows for efficient and organized repetition, enabling programmers to process each element in a collection without needing to manually handle each one individually.

For example, if you have a list of numbers and you want to print each number, a 'for' loop allows you to do this succinctly by defining the sequence at the beginning of the loop. As the loop runs, it takes each item from the sequence and performs the specified operations, significantly simplifying the code needed for such tasks.

This is distinct from other constructs, such as the one that repeats code until a condition becomes false, which describes a 'while' loop. Initializing variables has a different purpose and is typically done outside of looping constructs. Creating new threads involves concurrency and parallelism, which is not the primary function of a 'for' loop. The focus of a 'for' loop is explicitly on iterating through elements in a sequence, making option A the correct answer.