programming language

Programming languages are the means of generating software which makes the computer work. A computer operates by executing a program, i.e. following a sequence of instructions. The programmer starts with a design of what the program is intended to do, then writes it in a programming language, usually using words and commands similar to English (and so easily understandable by a human). The written program is known as the source code and is translated into the object or machine code which is the language the computer understands. Examples of languages are Basic, Java, C++, Logo, etc.