What is one primary reason functions are used in programming?

Functions are utilized in programming primarily to avoid repeating code, which enhances efficiency and maintainability. When a particular block of code is used multiple times, wrapping it in a function allows the programmer to call that function whenever needed without rewriting the same code multiple times. This not only saves time but also reduces the potential for errors since any changes or updates to the functionality only need to be made in one place. By using functions, programmers can keep their codebase cleaner and more organized, making it easier to read, understand, and modify in the future. Additionally, functions help in modularizing the code, which is beneficial during debugging and testing.