What does exception handling aim to achieve in programming?

Exception handling is a critical concept in programming that focuses on managing errors and exceptions that may occur during the execution of a program. The primary aim of exception handling is to ensure that a program can continue to run, or terminate gracefully, in the presence of unexpected conditions or errors.

By incorporating exception handling mechanisms, such as try-catch blocks in languages like Python, Java, or C#, a programmer can anticipate potential issues, respond to them accordingly, and provide alternative actions or messages rather than allowing the program to crash. This capability is paramount in producing robust applications that can handle real-world scenarios where errors are inevitable.

In contrast, other options such as increasing execution speed, simplifying coding processes, or automating data entry do not accurately reflect the core purpose of exception handling. While exception handling can indirectly contribute to more stable and maintainable code, its essential role centers on managing errors to improve program reliability.