Final answer:
A programmer uses the logical operator 'or' in an if statement when they want the code within the if block to execute if at least one of the provided conditions is true.
Step-by-step explanation:
A programmer would use the logical operator or in an if statement when an action is to be taken that requires at least one condition to be true. This ensures that the code within the if block executes if any of the conditions provided hold, improving flexibility in decision-making within the program. For example, an if statement would execute its block of code if either condition A is true or condition B is true (or both).
Conditional statements – primarily structured as if-then statements – form the basic building blocks of logical reasoning in programming. These help in formulating algorithms that react differently under varying circumstances. The logical operator or thereby extends the programmer's capability to branch out code execution paths based on multiple potential conditions being satisfied.