Which of the following represents a basic logic pattern in programming?

Branching is indeed a fundamental logic pattern in programming. It allows the flow of control to change based on certain conditions, enabling the program to execute different paths of code depending on whether a specified condition evaluates to true or false. This basic logic structure is commonly implemented using conditional statements such as if-else and switch-case.

In programming, branching is essential because it enables decision-making capabilities. For instance, if an application's user is logged in, they may be directed to a dashboard, while if they are not logged in, they might the redirected to a login page. This level of control is pivotal in creating dynamic and responsive programs.

While the other options mentioned—inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism—are also important concepts in object-oriented programming, they do not directly relate to basic logic patterns. Inheritance pertains to the concept of creating new classes based on existing ones, encapsulation deals with restricting access to certain components of an object, and polymorphism allows methods to do different things based on the object that it is acting upon. These principles support the structure and design of programs but do not represent fundamental decision-making patterns like branching does.