Do you wish to gain thorough knowledge on the topic of computer coding and its numerous benefits? Continue to our blog for a quick lesson on what is coding. (Source URL: https://www.goodcore.co.uk/blog/what-is-coding/)

1. What Is Coding And Why Should You Learn It?
Blog URL: https://www.goodcore.co.uk/blog/what-is-coding/

2. Introduction:
If you are one of those people who find the idea of making machines follow their
instructions fascinating, this article might help you to explore the entire science behind
it.
The devices that you use, from computers and smartphones to smart TVs and virtual
assistants, all work in a certain manner. But how do these devices know what tasks to
perform and how to perform them?
They are told what to do with the help of coding. But what is coding?
Coding refers to the process of writing instructions for machines in such a way that they
are able to understand them and behave or respond accordingly.
In this presentation, we will answer the following questions in as comprehensive a way
as possible:
• What does coding mean, and what is it used for?
• How does it work?
• What are the different types of coding technologies and languages?
• In what ways is coding beneficial?
• Continue reading for an enlightening discussion!

3. Coding 101 – For Beginners
Our introductory lesson – Coding 101 – will cover some simple yet important
coding concepts about what is coding.
However, let us first clear one common misconception. Most people think that
software engineering and coding are synonymous. That is incorrect. Coding is
actually one of the many processes which are part of software engineering. So
what is coding in software engineering? It is merely the process of converting
human instructions into a language that a computer can understand and follow.
Another question that is often raised is, “Do the terms ‘computer
coding’ and ‘computer programming’ mean the same thing?” There are a
few technical distinctions between the two. For example, programmers are said
to have higher-level jobs than coders. Coding is usually considered a part of the
more extensive programming process. However, in Coding 101, you are allowed
to use these terms interchangeably.
Let us now move on to some technical topics related to computer coding.

4. How Does Coding Work? A Question For The Curious
Now that we are done with the introductory lesson, let us delve deeper
into the technicalities about what is coding in software engineering,
and how it works.
In order to make a computer understand your instructions, you need to
choose a suitable means of communication. Computers can only
comprehend machine language (binary code). However, instead of
learning to code in binary language, you can learn assembly language or
other high-level languages.
Assembly language, although much more powerful than high-level
languages, is still a lot like machine language. Therefore, it is relatively
hard to learn. High-level languages are very similar to the languages
that humans communicate in, such as English. Hence, they make
computer coding much easier.

5. Continued…
Once you have learned a high-level language, you use it to write instructions. This
collection of instructions is called a program. The program is first converted from high-
level language to assembly language with the help of a compiler or interpreter. The
assembly language is further translated into machine language.
Once the computer is able to understand what you are saying, it knows exactly what to
do. Your code is successfully executed when the program “runs” and carries out your
instructions.

6. What Is Coding Used For?
You must now be thinking, “What can you do with coding?”
There are numerous applications of computer coding. One of the most common
ones is seen is the form of desktop applications. These are programs that you
use on your computers or laptops. For example, a word processor, such as
Microsoft Word, has many lines of code behind it.
Making desktop apps is not the only purpose of coding. There are many other
areas that can be used. Take a look at the following tasks:
• Developing a new operating system for PC
• Creating a mobile application, such as a new Music Player
• Setting up a website, such as a personal blog
• Instructing a microwave on how to heat food
• Coming up with a new MMORPG that people can play with their friends on
PC or phone
There are thousands (sometimes even millions) of lines of code that enable you
to perform these tasks. Therefore, this is all part of what coding is.

7. Types Of Coding Languages: A Few Basic Concepts
Coding involves writing many different types of programs to perform a
variety of tasks. You choose a language depending on your needs.
Each coding language has its own syntax, i.e., rules, just like the English
language has some grammar rules.
There are a few programming languages that have been a popular
choice among coders for the past few years. Let us talk about some of
the most common coding languages:
• Java
• Python
• PHP
• HTML
• CSS

8. Java
This is one of the few programming languages that are taught to Coding 101 students. Many people believe
that it is one of the languages that is easiest to learn. It is very similar to C when it comes to syntax. However,
unlike C, it is an object-oriented language (let’s leave that for another time though!).
One of its major advantages is that it is machine-independent. However, for development, you will need Java
SE installed on your machine.
Java is a multipurpose language. Its applications include the development of browser-based, mobile, and
desktop apps.
Let’s take a look at one of the beginner Java lessons, which makes use of the print function.
Input: Output:

9. Python
Python is another extremely simple and easy-to-learn coding language, which is a major reason behind its
rapidly increasing popularity. It is a favorite in the field of Data Science due to its extensive range of scientific
and mathematical functions. It is also used to develop desktop and web applications, such as ERP systems.
A simple command for printing a line on-screen would look like this:
Input: Output:
Some other common functions include;
• str(): declare empty string
• max()/min(): return maximum/minimum from list of given values
• sum(): return the total of given values

10. PHP
PHP is a scripting language that is used in writing server-side code for websites. It provides a communication
channel between the web server and the browser.
• There are a number of reasons why PHP is given preference over other scripting languages.
• It is free and open-source. You can download it here.
• It is extremely easy to learn.
• PHP has been a favorite of programmers for the past few years. Therefore, it has seen a lot of growth and
improvement, making it a good choice for both beginners and experts.
This is how you write a basic PHP script, i.e., the part that is enclosed in the <?php> … <?> tags.
Input: Output:

11. CSS
More commonly known as CSS, Cascading Style Sheets is used by developers to enhance
website design and layout. They are a means to beautify webpages. Using CSS, you can define
the font styles, sizes, colors, and various other design elements for the layout of your webpages.
CSS code usually follows this syntax:
If you wanted all your headings to be colored white with a black background, this is how you
would code it in your style sheet:

12. HTML
HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) is one of the most common coding languages used for web development. HTML tackles the
following questions:
• What content will be displayed on your webpage?
• How will it be displayed on the screen?
The language is based on pairs of tags (included in angle brackets, e.g., <tag> </tag>), which help identify and define the
elements on your webpage. For example, this is the code for including a heading on your page:
Input: Output:
Similarly, a paragraph is represented by <p> and an image by <img>.
Remember to always close your tags.
Here is an example of coding in HTML and CSS combined:

13. How Computer Coding Is Beneficial For You
Suppose you have a great idea for starting a website for your business where you
want to showcase the products or services you will be selling. What is the first step
that you will have to take to create a website? What is the process? That’s right,
coding technology. Do you see where we are going with this?
No matter what field of study or profession you may be in, being able to code is a
very handy skill required these days. You might argue that you can always hire
someone else to do the coding for you. However, the process of hiring a developer is
exhaustive, time-consuming, and maybe quite expensive too. You would not want to
hire someone just to write a simple piece of code for you. Even if you do decide to
hire someone for a project, it would be much easier to communicate your needs and
requirements to them if you yourself had a good understanding of basic coding
concepts. Therefore, it is better for you to at least learn a few basic coding skills.
If you choose to practice and excel at it, you could even end up making a career out
of it. If not, then you will at least be able to understand and stay informed about the
newest technologies.
Furthermore, coding involves coming up with multiple solutions to problems. So it
will help you in the creative and critical thinking department.

14. A Few Final Words
Now that you have reached the end of this article, you would know the answers to
these questions:
• What is coding in software engineering?
• What are some common programming languages?
• What advantages does computer coding give you?
Here are a few things that you must remember in coding 101:
• Always pick the coding technology that meets your requirements.
• Give equal importance to your coding concepts and hands-on practice.
• Don’t try to learn everything at once.
• Practice makes perfect!
You may be getting started with your “Hello World!” program right now, but you will
improve with consistent practice and revision. Good luck!

15. End.