What is a trace table used for?

A trace table is primarily utilized to track the state of variables in an algorithm throughout its execution. This tool allows developers and testers to analyze how values change over the course of a program's run, helping to understand the flow of execution and the impact of various operations on the data being processed.

By systematically recording the values of different variables at each step or iteration, trace tables can provide insight into how logical decisions are made, how loops iterate, and how functions are executed. This visibility is particularly important for debugging purposes, as it makes it easier to identify where errors might occur or how specific outputs are generated from given inputs.

In contrast, enhancing program speed involves optimizing algorithms or code but does not pertain to the bookkeeping aspect of variable states. Creating visual representations of logic is more aligned with flowcharts or diagrams, while checking for syntax errors in code relates to the compilation or interpretation phase of code execution, rather than the dynamic analysis that trace tables provide.