What is Source Code?

Source code refers to the human-readable instructions written in a programming language that define the behavior and functionality of software. These instructions are articulated in a format that developers can understand and modify, using languages like Java, Python, C++, and many others. Source code needs to be translated into machine code through a process of compilation or interpretation before it can be executed by a computer.

This characteristic of being a set of programming language instructions that must be translated is what distinguishes source code from compiled machine instructions, which are directly executable by the computer, or from other options that do not pertain to the actual coding themselves. User interface design specifications and database management protocols relate to aspects of software design and data manipulation but do not classify as source code. Thus, recognizing source code as the foundational layer of programming that requires translation informs a fundamental understanding of software development processes.