What is the purpose of a syntax tree in programming?

The purpose of a syntax tree, also known as an abstract syntax tree (AST), is to represent the grammatical structure of source code in a hierarchical format. This structure illustrates how various components of the code relate to one another according to the rules of the programming language's grammar. Each node in the tree represents a construct occurring in the source code, such as expressions, statements, or declarations, and the connections between the nodes show how these constructs combine to form valid programming constructs.

Understanding this representation is crucial in the context of compiling or interpreting code, as it allows the programming language processor to analyze and manipulate the code more easily. This hierarchical representation can also facilitate optimizations and transformations before generating executable code.

The other choices do not align with the fundamental purpose of a syntax tree. While executing code, creating a user interface, or storing data may involve other elements of programming, they do not directly pertain to the structural representation of the code itself, which is the primary role of a syntax tree.