What is the term for the process of giving computers instructions about what they should do next?

The 21st-century world runs on computers. And computers run on programs. Understanding computer programming unlocks the power of computing systems -- and programming opens career doors.

Computer programs communicate information to computing devices. Computers then carry out tasks based on the program instructions. Simple programs tell computers to run calculations, while complex programs can run video games, analyze big data, or drive a car.

Our guide defines computer programs, explores uses of programming, and looks at the knowledge and skills required for careers in programming. 

What is computer programming?

What is computer programming? Programming, also known as coding, refers to the process of writing instructions for computing devices and systems. A computer program translates those instructions into a language that computers can understand.  

Computer programmers use many different languages to command computers. Popular programming languages include Python, JavaScript, Java, and the C-languages. 

The tech industry relies on computer programming to create innovative new uses for computers. Groundbreaking fields like machine learning and artificial intelligence depend on computer programming.

Computer users interact with programs frequently. Web browsers, for example, are specialized computer programs. These user-facing programs fall into the category of front-end development. In contrast, back-end development creates programs for tasks the user does not see, including server communication. 

How is computer programming used?

Computer programmers created every application that computers run -- from photo editing software to word processors and web browsers. Programming languages unlock the power of computing systems. And without computer programming, our computing devices would not function. 

In addition to the uses of programming visible to users, programming languages also manage the hidden side of computing. Programs pull information from databases, implement security procedures to protect private data, and operate memory backup systems.

What computer programmers do

Computer programmers write code in languages like JavaScript, Python, and C++. Depending on their focus area -- web development, mobile application development, software engineering, and so on -- they use different languages. 

Computer programmers need more than fluency in one or more programming languages. They also need to know how to debug and modify code. Programmers often work in teams. 

The process of creating a program is complex and involves steps such as:

• Conceptualizing the goal of the application

• Building a layout of the different parts of the program

• Writing code

• Debugging the code and resolving any errors

• Testing the application 

• Releasing the program to beta users

Computer programming jobs

Many tech jobs require programming skills. For example, computer programmers, web developers, software developers, and software engineers all use coding skills regularly. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $91,250 in May 2020, more than twice the $41,950 median annual wage for all occupations. The best computer science jobs also show growth above the national average.

Other computer programming jobs include:

• Database administrator

• Computer systems analyst

• Information security analyst

• Data scientist

• Network architect

Becoming a computer programmer

Computer programmers gain coding skills through college programs, coding bootcamps, and self-study. A degree in computer science or programming builds strong coding skills. If you're wondering how to become a software engineer, researching training options is a good place to start.

Students can also enroll in online courses, certificate programs, or bootcamps focused on particular programming languages.

Prospective programmers should consider their strengths and career goals when choosing languages to learn. The easiest programming languages have simple syntax and can provide an entry point for tackling more complex languages. Note that different career paths require different programming languages.

Programming languages tell computing systems to perform tasks. Programmers code software, hardware, and other applications that allow people to use computers. 

Learning a programming language requires attention to detail and strong problem-solving skills. Focusing on an easier programming language helps new learners master core programming skills.

Computer programmers use many different languages, including JavaScript, Python, C++, and Java. Tech professionals use different languages depending on their goals and focus areas.

This article was reviewed by Monali Mirel Chuatico

In 2019, Monali Mirel Chuatico graduated with her bachelor's in computer science, which gave her the foundation that she needed to excel in roles such as a data engineer, front-end developer, UX designer, and computer science instructor. Monali is currently a data engineer at Mission Lane. As a data analytics captain at a nonprofit called COOP Careers, Monali helps new grads and young professionals overcome underemployment by teaching them data analytics tools and mentoring them on their professional development journey. Monali is passionate about implementing creative solutions, building community, advocating for mental health, empowering women, and educating youth. 

Monali Mirel Chuatico is a paid member of the Red Ventures Education freelance review network.  

A computer instruction is an order given to a computer processor by a computer program. At the lowest level, each instruction is a sequence of 0s and 1s that describes a physical operation the computer is to perform.

Computer instructions typically have three fields. These include an operation code, or opcode, field that identifies the operation to be performed, such as "add" data in memory to a specific register. They also have an address field, showing where registers and memory are located, and a mode field, showing how the registers and memory will perform.

Instructions vary in length. They can be a few bits long or many bytes. A very long instruction word (VLIW) is a processing architecture where the instructions are processed in parallel. VLIW is mostly used in high-performance, embedded applications. Reduced instruction set computer, or RISC, microprocessors are designed to perform a small number of computer instruction types, often of fixed lengths.

How do computer instructions work?

Computer programmers provide the instructions that the computer system needs, using a keyboard or other type of input device. The computer's operating system (OS) or other software applications are programmed to interpret and execute these instructions.

Depending on the particular instruction type, instructions specify special storage areas called registers that may contain data to be used in carrying out an instruction. Instructions also specify the location in computer memory of the data and the input/output (I/O) format to be used.

In a computer's assembler language, each language statement generally corresponds to a single processor instruction. In high-level languages, such as C++, a language statement generally results after the program is compiled in multiple processor instructions.

In assembler language, a macro instruction is one that expands to become multiple instructions during the assembler program processing. The exact way this works is based on a previously coded macro definition.

How instruction sets work

A collection of computer instructions is an instruction set. It facilitates a variety of tasks for a computer system's central processing unit (CPU) to execute. A basic computer has a computer architecture designed to link all components together into a cohesive system. The computer organization generally includes a CPU, memory, I/O components, firmware that contains the OS and specific control instructions on how the computer functions.

The following are the principal categories of instructions a computer must have to process information:

• computing capabilities, including arithmetic, shift and logic instructions;
• instructions that move information into and out of registers that are associated with the CPU and memory;
• program control instructions that also check the status of program activity; and
• instructions for I/O activities.

A considerable amount of information is stored in memory registers, but all computational and general processing activities occur in CPU registers. Branching instructions handle changes in how a program executes. I/O instructions move data into memory for subsequent processing regimes and then deliver the results to the user.

The 3 components of computer instructions

The computer instructions that programmers provide are made up of three fields. These fields are the following:

1. Opcode field. This field describes the operation that is to be performed.
2. Address field. This field indicates where register or memory addresses are located. These are referred to as the operands or the data that will be operated on or manipulated.
3. Mode field. This field specifies how the operand will perform.

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