How can I use the `assert` statement to help detect runtime errors during development?

The `assert` statement is a debugging aid that tests a condition. If the condition is false, an `AssertionError` is raised, halting the program. It's useful for verifying assumptions about your code's state during development. `assert condition, message` allows you to provide a custom error message. Note that `assert` statements are often disabled in production code, so they shouldn't be used for critical error handling.