What does the term 'library' refer to in programming?

In programming, the term 'library' refers to a collection of reusable code and functions. Libraries are designed to provide programmers with pre-written code to perform common tasks, which can significantly enhance productivity by allowing developers to avoid rewriting code from scratch. This collection typically includes a variety of functions and procedures that can be called upon in different programs, enabling the programmer to leverage existing solutions for standard operations—such as mathematical calculations, data manipulation, or handling input/output processes.

Using libraries helps maintain consistency in code, reduces development time, and can improve maintainability since updates or bug fixes to the library can benefit all programs that use it without requiring individual updates in the codebase. Therefore, the correct answer effectively captures the core concept of what a library represents in the realm of programming.