What does a chained conditional statement do?

A chained conditional statement evaluates a series of conditions to determine which block of code should execute next, based on the results of those evaluations. This type of structure allows for multiple potential pathways in the logic of a program, enabling the flow to adapt depending on various criteria being true or false.

In practice, this means that a program can handle complex decision-making scenarios. For instance, it might first check if a number is positive, then check if it is even, and subsequently perform different actions based on the results of those checks. Consequently, it allows for clear and organized logic flow that can manage multiple conditions in a structured manner.

This understanding sets a foundation for effective program design, as it promotes clarity and precision in how decisions are made within a program. Other options do not encapsulate the purpose of chained conditional statements, as they focus on aspects like error handling, numerical function outputs, or processing user input, which do not specifically pertain to the evaluation of multiple conditions.