Which characteristic is a major aspect of programming languages?

A major aspect of programming languages is syntax, which refers to the set of rules that define the combinations of symbols that are considered to be correctly structured programs. The syntax determines how the code is formatted, including how statements are written and how different components like variables, operators, and control structures are used together. Understanding syntax is crucial as it serves as the foundational grammar that guides programmers in writing code that the computer can interpret correctly.

In contrast, while modularity, error handling, and documentation style are important in programming and contribute to the effectiveness and maintainability of code, they do not represent the intrinsic rules and structures of a programming language itself. Modularity relates to organizing code into distinct sections, error handling pertains to managing and debugging issues during execution, and documentation style refers to how code is annotated or described for clarity. These characteristics enhance the coding process but hinge on an understanding of syntax to be effectively implemented.