Computer program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 09:48, 4 May 2004

Revision as of 00:47, 5 May 2004

Line 1:

A '''computer program''', or simply a '''program''' is an artifact that describes a [[computation]], and possibly actions that are to be carried out based on the results of those computations. A computer program can be manifested in several forms:

[[Computer program]] is a generic term for organized [[collection]]s of code representing [[instruction]]s executed by a [[computer]]. Software is often written first as [[source code]], and then converted to a [[binary]] format that is specific to the device on which the code will be executed.

* It can be written down on paper, like a cooking [[recipe]].

* It can be used to guide the fabrication of a piece of [[hardware]].

'Program' is generally considered as a separate concept/entity from '[[data]]'.

* It can be realized as [[software]], i.e. data stored in the memory of a [[computer]].

The last of these usages is the one most strongly associated with the term "computer program", and in fact the term "program" is often used as a synonym for "software". When manifested in the appropriate hardware or software, a program becomes directly ''executable''; that is, the program's embodiment can compute and act autonomously, without human intervention.

[[Computer software]] includes [[computer program]] and [[data]] together.

==Running a Program==