Control structures are essential components in programming that dictate the flow of a program's execution. They allow developers to make decisions, repeat actions, and manage the sequence of operations. Common types of control structures include if statements, loops, and switch cases, which help in directing how a program responds to different conditions or inputs. By using control structures, programmers can create more dynamic and responsive applications. For instance, an if statement can check whether a user is logged in before granting access to certain features, while loops can automate repetitive tasks, such as processing items in a list. This makes code more efficient and easier to manage.