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Programming

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9 views

Programming

Uploaded by

ann
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What is programming?

Programming refers to a technological process for telling a computer which tasks


to perform in order to solve problems. You can think of programming as a
collaboration between humans and computers, in which humans create
instructions for a computer to follow (code) in a language computers can
understand. Programming enables so many things in our lives, such as:
 When you browse a website to find information or make a purchase,
programming allows you to interact with the site’s on-page elements, such
as sign-up or purchase buttons, contact forms, and drop-down menus.
 The programming behind apps can make it easy to order food, book a
rideshare service, track your fitness, access media, and more.
 Programming helps businesses operate more efficiently through different
software for file storage and automation and video conferencing tools to
connect people globally.
 Space exploration is made possible through programming.
What’s the difference between coding and programming?
Coding and programming are sometimes used interchangeably, but the two
concepts are slightly different. Coding refers to the act of writing code, while
programming refers to creating a set of instructions for a computer to follow, or a
computer program. Programming can include a broader range of tasks, such as
working with data structures and algorithms, that aren’t inherently coding.
How does computer programming work?
At its most basic, programming tells a computer what to do. Although there are
many different kinds of coding languages, a computer can only speak a single
language of machine language or object code. Object code is written in binary,
which is a string of ones and zeros that doesn't look like a language we’d
recognize.
Translating code from something humans can read into something computers
can depends on two types of programming languages. With compiled
languages, such as C and C++, a compiler translates the code into a machine
language. However, interpreted languages, such as Python and JavaScript,
execute the code directly. There's no need for a compiler.
In short, programming follows a few steps:
 First, a programmer writes code—a set of letters, numbers, and other
characters.
 Next, a compiler converts each line of code into a language a computer
can understand.
 Then, the computer scans the code and executes it, thereby performing a
task or series of tasks.
Tasks might include displaying an image on a webpage or changing the font of a
section of text.
Key programming languages
Different programming languages enable programmers to write code that
computers understand. According to a survey by Statista, the top five
programming languages that developers use are [1]:
 JavaScript, used by 62.3 percent
 HTML/CSS, used by 52.9 percent
 SQL, used by 51 percent
 Python, used by 51 percent
 TypeScript, used by 38.5 percent
Explore next what you can do with these programming languages.
JavaScript
This language is used on every major web browser. JavaScript allows you to add
complex features to a web page, such as content updates, interactive maps, and
animated graphics, develop games, and more.
Read more: Java vs. JavaScript: What's the Difference?
HTML/CSS
These languages are used to create web pages and web applications. You would
use HTML (hypertext markup language) to build web page structure, while CSS
(cascading style sheets) would enable you to determine the page’s styling.
Read more: Easiest Programming Languages to Learn for Front-End
Development
SQL
SQL stands for Structured Query Language and is used to communicate with
databases, including updating and retrieving data.
Read more: What Does an SQL Developer Do? Role, Salary, and Skills
Python
Python programming is often used in machine learning, web development, and
desktop applications. Python is a popular language among beginners, as the
syntax is relatively easy to learn. It is known as an object-oriented programming
language.

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