In programming, what is the purpose of a subroutine?

The purpose of a subroutine in programming is to encapsulate a set of instructions, allowing for organized, modular, and reusable code. By grouping a sequence of operations into a subroutine, a programmer can execute that block of code multiple times throughout a program without needing to rewrite the same instructions repeatedly. This not only streamlines code but also enhances clarity and maintainability, as changes can be made in one place rather than throughout the entire codebase.

Furthermore, subroutines can receive inputs through parameters and can also return outputs, making them a powerful tool for performing specific tasks or computations that can be reused with different data. This encapsulation supports better software design principles, such as abstraction and separation of concerns, leading to more structured and efficient development practices.