In C programming, determining whether a file exists is a fundamental task for various operations involving file handling. The existence of a file can be checked using the `access()` function, which takes two arguments: the file path and a mode indicating the desired access permissions.
Checking for file existence is crucial in numerous scenarios. It helps prevent errors and exceptions when attempting to open or manipulate non-existent files. This ensures the smooth execution of file-related operations and enhances the robustness of your C programs.