What would you use to instruct your computer to execute a different sequence of instructions?

Branching is used to instruct a computer to execute a different sequence of instructions based on certain conditions. This is a fundamental concept in programming, where a program can take different paths through its code depending on whether specific criteria are met. For example, in an if-then statement, the computer evaluates a condition, and if the condition is true, it executes one block of code; if it is false, it executes another. This ability to change the flow of execution allows for more dynamic and responsive programs.

In contrast, looping involves executing a sequence of instructions repeatedly, while indexing relates to accessing elements within data structures. Debugging is the process of identifying and fixing errors in code, rather than altering the execution path. Thus, branching specifically addresses the need to change the sequence of instructions based on variable conditions in programming.