What does an if statement do in Karel programming?

An if statement in Karel programming serves the purpose of enabling Karel to make decisions based on certain conditions. When Karel encounters an if statement, it evaluates whether the specified condition is true. If the condition evaluates to true, Karel will execute the block of code that follows the if statement. This functionality is essential for creating dynamic behaviors, allowing Karel to perform different actions in response to varying circumstances in its environment, such as whether there is a wall in front of it or if it has reached a specific location.

This decision-making capability is fundamental in programming, as it allows the creation of adaptive and flexible programs. In contrast, the other choices present limitations that do not align with the purpose of an if statement. For example, the option suggesting a restriction to move in only one direction does not reflect the conditional logic provided by an if statement. Additionally, the idea of limiting actions permanently or creating a new function suggests static behaviors or function definitions, which are not the intended use of conditional statements. Thus, the correct option accurately represents the core function of decision-making in Karel programming.