How does source code work

Interpreting source code refers to turning it into an intermediate form which is executed by a program called an interpreter instead of turning source code directly into machine code like a compiler does. While code written in any programming language must be parsed, some code is compiled, and some code is interpreted.

These languages are designed to create executable programs, so code written in them needs to be compiled. These languages are designed to create web applications and display data on web pages, not to create executable programs. So code written in them needs to be interpreted. HPC2 defines the techniques for achieving computing operations that match the speed of supercomputing from a cloud computing architecture.

View Full Term. By clicking sign up, you agree to receive emails from Techopedia and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Source code is the set of instructions and statements written by a programmer using a computer programming language. This code is later translated into machine language by a compiler. The translated code is referred to as object code.

Source code is the source of a computer program. It contains declarations, instructions, functions, loops and other statements, which act as instructions for the program on how to function. So, just like a foreign language, one must learn at least one of the various programming languages before being able to program, etc.

There are hundreds of different programming languages. Some of the most popular programming languages are:. For the computer to understand these languages, however, they need to first be translated into machine code. For the computer to be able to further process the source code written by the programmer, there needs to be a translation between the two — this occurs in the form of an additional program. This assistance application can be in either the form of a compiler or an interpreter:.

Nowadays, an intermediate solution is being used increasingly often - Just-in-time compilation JIT. This type of translation attempts to combine the advantages of both variants quick analysis and quick execution and is used in browsers, for example, to more effectively handle JavaScript, PHP, or Java. The foundation of a website is also referred to as a source code. However, this is not a case of a programming language but rather the markup language HTML. A markup language determines how content is structured.

For example, using HTML allows you to define headlines, paragraphs, or highlights. A similar principle applies for other markup languages, such as XML. Very few programming languages appear out of nowhere, though, and most of them build on one another. For this reason, certain elements come into use in various different program codes:. Developers write programs in order to provide solutions. The way to do that, though, is not set in stone.

When two programmers are dealing with the same problem, it could well happen that the two resulting source codes are quite different from one another - even if they are working in the same language. The additional text makes the problem confusing, slower, and more prone to errors.

To write a source code, all you really need is a simple text editor - like the Notepad on Windows or TextEdit on Mac. This way, source code can be saved as plain text e. File name extensions are conventions. The suffix, which is usually separated from the attached file name by a period, is meant to indicate the format of the file.

Other operating systems that are based on Unix e. In addition to the standard programs of the operating system, there are also advanced text editors that simplify source code work through various functions:. Enormous projects can be realized more easily with special programs. Other advantages of such IDEs are the tools that communicate with one another seamlessly and make synchronous changes. These tools usually include:.

Well-known examples of the integrated development environment are the open source Eclipse or the Microsoft product Visual Studio. Websites are written in the HTML markup language. What both languages have in common is that they can be written in a simple text editor. Computer Science Expert. Featured Video.

Cite this Article Format. Bolton, David. Definition of Source Code. Comparing Popular Programming Languages. Differences Between Compilers and Interpreters. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for ThoughtCo. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page.

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