What are 'lightning components' in Salesforce?

Lightning components in Salesforce are designed as reusable interface elements that enable developers to build dynamic applications with greater efficiency. This component-based framework allows for the creation of modern user interfaces that are responsive and can easily adapt to different devices and screen sizes.

By using Lightning components, developers benefit from a modular approach, where each component operates independently and can be reused across various applications. This not only accelerates development time but also improves maintainability and scalability, as updates to one component can be automatically reflected wherever that component is utilized.

The architecture of Lightning components allows for a seamless integration of both client-side and server-side logic, facilitating enhanced performance and user experience. Additionally, it encourages collaboration and code sharing among developers, promoting best practices in design and application development.

In contrast, other options do not accurately represent the primary function and purpose of Lightning components within the Salesforce ecosystem. Complex programming scripts may be used within components but do not define them, while static HTML pages lack interactivity and reusability. Database management tools are also unrelated to the interface design and functionality of Lightning components.