GLOSSARY: Source code

Source code is the name given to text instructions written in a computer programming language by computer programmers. They write 'source code routines' to make the computer perform certain tasks. This is then either

automatically translated to binary machine code by an interpreter so that the computer can directly read and execute the program OR
a compiler translates the source code to machine code that it stores as a executable file (one that can be 'run' on the computer - one the computer understands!). That file can then be 'run' by the programmer (executed) as a separate step.