Which statement characterizes a for loop?

A for loop is designed to execute a specific block of code multiple times. This characteristic is fundamental to its design, as it iterates over a sequence (like a list, tuple, string, or range) and performs the specified actions for each item in that sequence. This structured repetition is essential for many programming tasks, such as processing items in a collection or performing calculations over a range of numbers.

The other options describe behaviors that do not accurately capture the essence of a for loop. For instance, the first option implies a conditional loop that would not run if a certain condition is false, which is more akin to a while loop. The third option suggests that a loop can only execute once, which is contrary to the very nature of a for loop that is meant for multiple executions. Lastly, the fourth option presents the notion of skipping iterations, which refers to control statements like 'continue' within loops rather than a defining characteristic of a for loop itself.