What is a program?
A file full of instructions the computer runs
⏱ Est. ~4 min
01 · Read
A program is a file that contains instructions a computer can execute. Every app on your computer — Chrome, Spotify, Calculator — is a program.
💡 Picture thisA program is like a recipe. The recipe (the code) is written on paper (in a file). When you "run" it, the computer follows the instructions step by step, just like a chef cooking from a recipe.
Key points
- Every app on your computer is a program: Chrome, Spotify, Calculator
- A program starts as code (text) an engineer writes into a file
- "Running" a program = the computer reads those instructions and follows them
- Double-clicking an app icon tells the computer: "read this program file, then run the instructions inside"
02 · Program simulation
Here's a simple program written in plain English. Hit "Run Program" to watch the computer execute it step by step. When it asks for your name, type something in!
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03 · Quiz
What is a program?
- A file holding instructions a computer can execute
- A folder created by Apple or Microsoft
- A document the OS opens automatically at startup
- A copy of an installer that stays on disk after downloading
04 · Quiz
When you double-click the Chrome icon on your desktop, what actually happens?
- Chrome gets re-downloaded from the internet
- The computer reads the Chrome program file and runs the instructions inside
- A new file is created on the desktop
- Chrome silently re-downloads itself in the background
Other lessons in this chapter
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