What does the `filter()` method do in JavaScript?

The filter() method in JavaScript is designed to create a new array populated with elements that pass a certain condition defined by a provided callback function. This method is particularly useful for selecting elements from an array that meet specific criteria, enabling developers to work with a more focused subset of data without altering the original array.

When the filter() method is called on an array, it iterates through each element, applying the callback function to determine whether to include that element in the new array. If the callback function returns true for an element, it will be included in the resulting array; if it returns false, that element will be excluded.

For instance, if you have an array of numbers and you want to filter out only the even numbers, you would pass a callback function that checks if each number is even. The resulting array will contain only those even numbers, while the original array remains unchanged.

By providing this functionality, the filter() method offers a pure and functional approach to data manipulation in JavaScript, adhering to principles of immutability, which is a fundamental concept in modern programming practices.