What does "exception handling" do in programming?

Exception handling is a crucial concept in programming that specifically addresses how a program responds to runtime errors. When your code encounters an unexpected situation—like trying to divide by zero, accessing a non-existent file, or running out of memory—exception handling allows the program to catch these errors gracefully, preventing the application from crashing.

By implementing exception handling, developers can define specific responses to different types of errors, allowing the program to continue running or to terminate in a controlled manner. This not only improves the robustness and reliability of applications but also enhances user experience, as users receive meaningful error messages rather than abrupt crashes.

The other options touch on important aspects of programming but do not accurately define exception handling. For instance, validating user input is about ensuring data integrity before processing input from users, while managing program performance relates to optimizing the efficiency of code execution. Specifying data types pertains to defining the kind of data that can be held by variables but does not relate to error management. Exception handling distinctly focuses on managing and responding to issues that arise during program execution, making it an essential tool for good programming practice.