Loops are essential control structures in programming that allow a set of instructions to be executed repeatedly based on a condition. They help avoid redundant code, enhance program efficiency, and make the code more readable and maintainable. There are various types of loops such as “for”, “while”, and “do-while,” each serving different purposes. For example, a “for” loop is often used when the number of iterations is known, while a “while” loop is used when the condition needs to be checked before each iteration. Loops are fundamental in handling repetitive tasks like processing elements in an array or performing calculations.