What is the role of the `except` block in error handling?

The role of the except block in error handling is to handle exceptions that are raised by the try block. When the code within the try block encounters an error, Python looks for the corresponding except block to manage that error gracefully. This allows the program to continue executing without crashing, providing a way to respond to different types of exceptions appropriately.

By using the except block, you can specify what should happen when a particular error occurs, such as logging the error, displaying a user-friendly message, or attempting a recovery process. This improves the robustness of the program and enhances the user experience by preventing abrupt terminations.

The other options pertain to different programming concepts. Declaring a function is done using the def keyword, while the guarantee of always executing code after the try block is achieved with a finally block. Defining code that will raise an exception is not within the purview of the except block but is usually done with a raise statement in Python.