What is the scope of the variable 'b' in the provided code?

The variable 'b' has function scope, meaning it is accessible anywhere within the function in which it is declared, but not outside of that function. This encapsulation allows for the variable to be modified and used throughout the function without any interference from variables of the same name in other functions or blocks.

Function scope is an important concept in programming, particularly in languages like C, Java, and Python, where variables declared within a function cannot be accessed outside of it. This ensures that the variable ‘b’ will not clash with any other variables of the same name in different functions, which helps in maintaining cleaner and error-free code.

In contrast, global scope would allow 'b' to be accessed anywhere in the program, while block scope pertains to variables that are confined to a specific block, such as within loops or conditionals, and would limit the visibility of 'b' to those blocks. Lastly, function-prototype scope is a less common term that generally refers to the context of function declarations rather than variable visibility. Thus, function scope is the most accurate description of where 'b' can be utilized in the provided code.