What defines a procedure in programming?

A procedure in programming is defined as a set of instructions that perform a specific task. This definition encapsulates the essence of what a procedure does: it is a reusable block of code that can be invoked to execute a particular function or operation within a program. Procedures help in structuring code, improving readability, and reusability, as they allow programmers to break down complex problems into smaller, manageable tasks. When a procedure is called or invoked, the program executes the sequence of instructions it contains, which can involve calculations, data manipulation, or interfacing with other parts of the program.

The other concepts presented are distinct from the definition of a procedure. A collection of logical rules refers more to the principles of reasoning and algorithms, which guide decision-making and processes but do not define a specific coded structure. A data type for storing characters refers to data structures like strings or character arrays, which are not related to procedures as they deal with how data is represented rather than how tasks are executed. Lastly, an error handling mechanism is related to strategies used in programming to manage exceptions or errors during execution, which focuses on robustness in code rather than defining a callable set of instructions.