What does debugging mean in coding?

Debugging refers specifically to the practice of identifying, diagnosing, and correcting errors or bugs within a program or piece of code. It is an essential part of the software development process, as it ensures that the code functions as intended and meets the requirements set forth by the developer. This process might involve various techniques such as code reviews, utilizing debugging tools, or inserting print statements to observe how a program executes.

The other options reflect different activities associated with coding but do not capture the essence of debugging. Writing new code is simply the act of creating software, copying code deals with duplication rather than error correction, and optimizing code for speed focuses on enhancing performance rather than fixing existing problems. Thus, the concept of debugging is distinct and critical, making it the correct choice in this context.