Which of the following best describes a logical operator?

A logical operator is defined as an operator that combines boolean expressions to produce a true or false outcome based on particular logical relationships. In programming, common logical operators include AND, OR, and NOT. These operators assess the truth values of the expressions they operate on, allowing for complex conditional statements that can control the flow of a program or determine the result of a boolean expression.

For example, in an expression like A AND B, the logical operator checks whether both A and B are true. If they are, the outcome is true; if either is false, the outcome is false. This functionality is crucial in decision-making processes within code, such as in if statements or loops, where the result dictates the course of execution.

The other options describe different types of operators: arithmetic operators perform mathematical calculations (like addition and subtraction), comparison operators evaluate how two values relate to each other (like greater than or equal to), and string operators manipulate or modify text. Each serves a specific role in programming but does not fulfill the function of combining boolean expressions like logical operators do.