What does the 'input' function do in Python?

The 'input' function in Python is designed to allow programs to receive input from users during their execution. When the function is called, it pauses the program and waits for the user to type something into the console, after which it captures that input as a string. This capability is crucial for creating interactive applications, as it enables users to provide data or make choices that alter the program's flow or logic.

For example, if a programmer wants to ask the user for their name and then greet them, they would use the input function to get that name as follows:

name = input("What is your name? ")
print("Hello, " + name)

In this scenario, the input function effectively gathers the user's response, which the program can then utilize. This feature makes it possible for scripts and applications to be dynamic and user-centered, as opposed to being static and predefined.