What is the effect of the stopTimer() function in a program?

The stopTimer() function is used to halt the timer that has been set in a program. When called, it effectively ceases any ongoing timing operations, ensuring that no further actions tied to the timer will take place until another timer is started. This function is crucial in programming contexts where precise timing is important, allowing developers to control events, animations, or other time-dependent actions within their programs.

The other options do not accurately describe the function's purpose. For instance, starting the timer again refers to a different operation, while pausing program execution suggests that the program becomes completely inactive, which is not what stopTimer() does since it only impacts the timer, not the entire program flow. Changing the rate of the timer implies a modification to how frequently the timer ticks, which is not part of the functionality of stopTimer(). Therefore, the correct choice emphasizes the specific responsibility of stopping an already set timer.