What is the primary purpose of using braces { } in Java?

In Java, braces { } serve the primary purpose of grouping program components. This includes defining the boundaries of class bodies, method bodies, and code blocks associated with control statements like loops and conditionals. By using braces, developers can encapsulate multiple statements that should be executed together under a specific scope, ensuring that they are treated as a single unit.

For instance, a method's body, enclosed in braces, contains all the code that should run when the method is invoked. Similarly, when using control flow statements like if, for, or while, braces can be used to specify which statements are part of that control structure, allowing for greater clarity and organization in the code. This structuring helps in managing the flow of execution and enhances readability, maintaining logical connections between related statements or blocks of code.

Other options refer to concepts that do not align with the functionality of braces: comments are denoted by specific symbols like // for single-line comments or /* ... */ for multi-line comments; variables and constants are defined without braces; and method parameters are specified within parentheses (), not braces. Thus, the use of braces is essential for delineating the scope and structure of code in Java.