What is a Programming Language?

• Programming Language

  A set of rules, symbols, and special words used to construct a program

  
  

• Coding

  The process of translating an algorithm into a program

  
  

• Compiling

  Translating the program written in a programming language (source code) into a program written in machine language (object code). This is accomplished by using a compiler

  
  

• Debugging

  The process of correcting errors (syntactical or logical) in a program. Syntax errors are flagged by compilers, logical errors may be corrected by using a debugger.

  
  

• Execution

  The process of loading object code into memory and asking the computer to follow the instruction (a.k.a. 'running' the program)

  
  

• Documentation

  The written text and comments that make a program easier for others to understand, use and modify. Comments are ignored by the compiler in the compilation process

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