I’ve been using them to invest in stocks where I expect an increase in value to profit without buying the stock. For instance, say a stock trades at 10, to buy 100 shares you need $1000, if the price increases to 14 and you sell, you made 400 (40% return). That same stock may have an option that you can purchase for 4. Each option contract is 100 share lots. So you invest $400. If the stocks moves
To 14, your option will increase in value as a multiple. So maybe the option increases 2.50. You close the option and you get 650 when invested  400. So your return is 63% vs buying and vs 40% and you didn’t have as much capital tied up. 

This is an example and options have funny responses to market changes. I’ve only messed with buying long dated call options. Short dated gets really squirrelly. I’m certainly no expert in this but have had this work in the past. It is my understanding that 80% of calls expire worthless so the idea it is to get in when a stock is depressed and get out when there’s a pop in the stock, not to hold it for the duration.