Control flow refers to the order in which individual statements, instructions, or function calls are executed in a program. It determines how a program responds to different conditions and inputs, allowing for decision-making and repetition of tasks. Common control flow structures include if statements, for loops, and while loops, which help manage the sequence of operations based on specific criteria. By using control flow, programmers can create dynamic and responsive applications. For example, an if statement can execute a block of code only when a certain condition is true, while loops can repeat actions until a condition is met. This flexibility is essential for developing complex algorithms and enhancing user interaction.