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Source code files are human-readable plain text files that include variable declarations, functions, loops, and other statements that tell a program what to do. Some programs only need a few lines of source code, while others may consist of millions of lines.","contributor":{"@type":"Person","name":"Brian Pickle","url":"https://techterms.com/authors/brian_pickle"},"image":"https://techterms.com/img/md/source_code_573.png","url":"https://techterms.com/definition/source_code"} </script> </head> <body> <div id="full"> <header id="siteheader"> <div class="content"> <a href="#main" class="visuallyhidden">Skip to main content</a> <a href="/" class="logo"><img src="/svg/logo.svg" width="212" height="24" alt="TechTerms.com"></a> <div class="siteheader-middle"> <div class="searchwrapper collapsed"> <form id="search" class="search" action="/search" method="post"> <div class='autocomplete' role='combobox' aria-expanded='false' aria-owns='autocomplete-results'> <input type="text" id="term" name="term" placeholder="Search (e.g. source code, ASP, PHP, C#)" aria-label="Search (e.g. psd, docx, exe, jpg, zip)" autocomplete="off" class='autocomplete-input term' aria-autocomplete='both' aria-controls='autocomplete-results'> <button id="searchsubmit" class="searchsubmit"></button> </div> <ul id='autocomplete-results' class='autocomplete-results hidden' aria-label='Search'> </ul> </form> </div> <a href="/random" class="headerbutton random" id="random"><img src="/svg/random.svg" alt="random" width="16" height="16"></a> <button id="searchtoggle"><img src="/svg/search-white.svg" alt="search" width="18" height="18"></button> </div> <div class="siteheader-right"> <button id="menuopen"><img src="/svg/menu.svg" alt="open menu" width="18" height="16"></button> <nav id="sitemenu" class="collapsed"> <button id="menuclose"><img src="/svg/close.svg" alt="close menu" width="14" height="14"></button> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/">Terms</a></li> <li><a href="/quiz/">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/help/">Help Center</a></li> <li class="mobile"><a href="/random">Random Term</a></li> <li class="settings"><button id="settings"><img src="/svg/settings.svg" alt="settings" width="22" height="22"></button> <div class="settingsmenu"> <fieldset> <legend>Theme</legend> <input id="theme-default" value="default" type="radio" name="theme" checked> <label for="theme-default">Light</label> <input id="theme-dark" value="dark" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-dark">Dark</label> <input id="theme-hc" value="hc" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-hc">High Contrast</label> </fieldset> <div class="fontsizewrapper"><label for="fontsize">Font Size<input type="range" id="fontsize" name="fontsize" min="14" max="26" step="2" value="20"></label><span class="currentsize">20</span></div> <button id="resetsettings">Reset</button> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main> <div class="adTopLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589388248615-0'> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="def"> <div id="left"> <div class="card hasheader"> <div class="cardheader"> <div class="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Home</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg><a href="/category/software">Software Terms</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg>Source Code Definition</div> </div> <article> <h1>Source Code</h1> <div class="adDefRect"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589302365809-0'> </div> </div> <p>Source code is text written in a <a href="/definition/programming_language">programming language</a> that contains a program's instructions. Source code files are human-readable <a href="/definition/plaintext">plain text</a> files that include variable declarations, <a href="/definition/function">functions</a>, <a href="/definition/loop">loops</a>, and other statements that tell a program what to do. Some programs only need a few lines of source code, while others may consist of millions of lines.</p> <p>Software developers usually follow several common conventions when writing source code to make complex code easier to read and modify. For example, developers should name <a href="/definition/variable">variables</a> in a way that describes their purpose, and also use a consistent method for indenting code blocks that clearly separate functions. Developers also typically include comments to explain sections of code. Comments help other programmers (and even the original programmer in the future) understand what each code element does. </p> <p>Short programs in some programming languages are known as <a href="/definition/script">scripts</a>; these programs may be run directly from the source code using a scripting engine, like VBScript or <a href="/definition/php">PHP</a> engine. However, most programming languages require that a developer <a href="/definition/compile">compiles</a> a program's source code before it can run. Compiling translates source code into binary machine code, stored as <a href="/definition/executable_file">executable files</a> that the computer can understand and run.</p> <p>A program's source code may be kept in a single file or distributed across many interlinked files. Breaking source code into several files helps keep a program's functions organized by their purpose. Many programmers use an Integrated Development Environment (<a href="/definition/ide">IDE</a>) to write and manage their source code files. An IDE typically includes a code editor, a <a href="/definition/version_control">version control</a> system, a runtime environment, a <a href="/definition/debugger">debugger</a>, and a <a href="/definition/compiler">compiler</a>. These tools make it easier for a developer to write code, test it, find and fix bugs, and compile it for distribution within a single program.</p> <div class="adBotLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589236206757-0'> </div> </div> <div class="cardfooter"> <div class="upDate"><div class="author">Updated <span class="pdate">March 13, 2023</span> by <a href="/authors/brian_pickle">Brian P.</a></div></div><div id="citations"> <div class="tabs"> <div role="tablist" aria-label="citations"> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="apa" tabindex="-1">APA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="mla" tabindex="-1">MLA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="chicago" tabindex="-1">Chicago</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="html" tabindex="-1">HTML</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="link" tabindex="-1">Link</button> </div> <div class="citationwrap"> <div id="apa" role="tabpanel" 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<li><a href="/definition/programming_language">Programming Language</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/software">Software</a></li> </ol> <ol start="6"><li><a href="/definition/version_control">Version Control</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/bug">Bug</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/repository">Repository</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/cplusplus">C/C++</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/plaintext">Plain Text</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <h2 class="heading">Source Code Images</h2> <div class="baguetteBox gallery"> <figure> <a href="https://techterms.com/img/xl/source_code_573.png"><img src="https://techterms.com/img/sm/source_code_573.png" alt="Source code for a short program written in C" width="225" height="296" srcset="https://techterms.com/img/md/source_code_573.png 450w, https://techterms.com/img/sm/source_code_573.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 748px) 225px, (max-width: 970px) 162px, 225px"></a> <figcaption class="caption">Source code for a short program written in C</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="adRightSky"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589233879778-0'> </div> </div> </div> <div class="techterms card"> <h2 class="heading">The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary</h2> <p>The definition of Source Code on this page is an original definition written by the <a href="/authors/">TechTerms.com team</a>. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation links above.</p> <p>The goal of TechTerms.com is to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. 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