What role do procedures play in Karel programming?

Procedures in Karel programming define a sequence of commands that Karel can execute. This allows programmers to encapsulate a specific task or action into a named procedure, making the code more organized, reusable, and easier to understand. By defining a procedure, Karel can perform complex actions with a single command, allowing for cleaner and more efficient code.

For example, if there is a series of commands that Karel needs to perform—like moving forward, turning, and picking up a beeper—these can be grouped into a single procedure named "collectBeeper." When you call this procedure, Karel will execute all the commands in that series in order, which reduces redundancy and improves clarity in the program structure.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the role of procedures. Random functions do not pertain to the structured nature of procedures. Procedures are designed to respond to specific commands rather than limit movements, and they are not associated with external libraries, which serve a different purpose in programming.