Programming

Programming is the process of creating a set of instructions that tell a computer how to perform a task. Programming can be done using a variety of computer languages, such as Python, Java, and C++.

Overview

Programming involves tasks such as analysis, generating algorithms, profiling algorithms' accuracy and resource consumption, and the implementation of algorithms in a chosen programming language (commonly referred to as coding). The source code of a program is written in one or more languages that are intelligible to programmers, rather than machine code, which is directly executed by the central processing unit.

History

The earliest known instances of programming can be traced back to the 19th century with the creation of the Analytical Engine by Charles Babbage. Ada Lovelace, a mathematician and writer, is credited with writing the world's first machine algorithm for an early computing machine that existed only on paper.

Types of Programming

There are several types of programming, each suited to different tasks and platforms. Some of the most common include:

• Procedural programming: A type of programming where a set of procedures or routines are defined, and the program instructs the computer to execute these procedures to solve a problem.

• Object-oriented programming: This type of programming organizes data into objects and describes object contents and behavior through the declaration of classes.

• Functional programming: In functional programming, programs are executed by evaluating expressions, in contrast with imperative programming where programs are composed of statements which change global state when executed.

Programming Languages

There are hundreds of different programming languages, each designed with certain types of tasks in mind. Some of the most popular include:

• Python: A high-level, interpreted programming language known for its readability and simplicity.

• Java: A class-based, object-oriented programming language that is designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible.

• C++: A general-purpose programming language that has imperative, object-oriented and generic programming features.

See Also

• Software development
• Algorithm
• Computer Science