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Source code
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Computing/Kghtm9fX">computing</a>, source code, or simply code or source, is a <a href="/facts/Plain_text/TSlSSAg2">plain text</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_program/e38jH9N9">computer program</a> written in a <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming language</a>. A <a href="/facts/Programmer/WGTS1Jv9">programmer</a> writes the <a href="/facts/Human_readable/GDE1fpHT">human readable</a> source code to control the behavior of a <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a>. </p><p>Since a computer, at base, only understands <a href="/facts/Machine_code/bgdQ1Fxf">machine code</a>, source code must be <a href="/facts/Translator_(computing)/D3TIzmrI">translated</a> before a computer can <a href="/facts/Execution_(computing)/1fyfGMFm">execute</a> it. The translation process can be implemented three ways. Source code can be converted into machine code by a <a href="/facts/Compiler/WNfCDFJe">compiler</a> or an <a href="/facts/Assembler_(computing)/7XuV0cla">assembler</a>. The resulting <a href="/facts/Executable/VSst9eLA">executable</a> is machine code ready for the computer. Alternatively, source code can be executed without conversion via an <a href="/facts/Interpreter_(computing)/JB85fbyb">interpreter</a>. An interpreter loads the source code into memory. It simultaneously translates and executes each <a href="/facts/Statement_(computer_science)/bEkBufqX">statement</a>. A method that combines compilation and interpretation is to first produce <a href="/facts/Bytecode/EPkMFR7M">bytecode</a>. Bytecode is an intermediate representation of source code that is quickly interpreted. </p>