What is the purpose of using exit codes in scripts?

Using exit codes in scripts serves the vital function of indicating the success or failure of a script's execution. When a script runs, it can conclude with various outcomes, and the exit code provides a standardized way for the script to communicate its status back to the calling environment or system. A common convention is that an exit code of zero signifies success, while any non-zero code indicates an error or some form of failure. This mechanism allows developers and systems to programmatically check the result of a script, enabling them to handle different outcomes appropriately—whether to proceed with further actions if the script succeeded or to trigger error handling if it failed.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the role of exit codes in scripting. While total execution time (first choice) might be tracked through other means, it does not relate to exit codes. User input (second choice) is managed through different input methods, such as command-line arguments or prompts during execution, rather than exit statuses. The concept of controlling flow based on user commands (fourth choice) is typically handled by conditionals or loops within the script itself, not through exit codes. Therefore, the primary purpose of exit codes is indeed to convey the success or failure status of the script's execution.