What is the purpose of parentheses () in a programming expression?

The role of parentheses in programming is primarily to group expressions, which allows for controlling the order of operations. When you have multiple operations in an expression, using parentheses can clarify which parts of the expression should be evaluated first. This is essential, especially in expressions that involve operators with different precedences.

For example, in the expression (3 + 5 \times 2), without parentheses, multiplication takes precedence, resulting in (3 + 10), which equals (13). However, if we want to add first, we would write it as ((3 + 5) \times 2), which evaluates to (8 \times 2) and equals (16). Thus, parentheses allow for precise control over the evaluation order, ensuring that the intended outcome is achieved.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary function of parentheses in programming expressions. While printing, running, or composing expressions involves various other syntax or functions within programming languages, the grouping function of parentheses is foundational in determining how calculations and logical operations are structured.