Definition of Programming Languages

By Chidiere Oluoma
                                                                                              Macrovector (2021)

According to senior technology editor, Peter Loshin, a program is a set of ordered operations for a computer to perform. This usually does contain a one-at-a-time sequence of instructions that the computer carries out. (Loshin, 2021)

Wikipedia defines Computer programming as "the process of performing a particular computation (or more generally, accomplishing a specific computing result), usually by designing and building an executable computer program." (Wikipedia, 2023)

Below, we will be going through some of the most notable computer programming languages, as well as some of their uses and functions.

  • HTML 

This stands for Hypertext Markup Language. It is one of the most widely-used programming languages today. Ben Lutkevich, a technical features writer describes it as "a text-based approach to describing how content contained within an HTML file is structured." (Lutkevich, 2020)

  • CSS 

CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets, and according to tech enthusiast, Cameron McKenzie, it "is the standard and preferred mechanism for formatting HTML pages." (McKenzie, 2021) CSS "provides a central location in which information about what various fonts, foreground colors, background colors, italicization and emphasization should be applied to various HTML elements within a webpage." (McKenzie, 2021)

  • JAVASCRIPT

Tech writer and enthusiast, Cameron McKenzie describes JavaScript as: " an interpreted language, as opposed to compiled languages, such as C++ and Java." (McKenzie, 2018) 

He goes further to state that: "in the years since its introduction, it has not only supplanted a variety of other competing languages and technologies to become the standard for browser-based programming, but it has also expanded beyond the client space to become a dominant language on the server side, as well." (McKenzie, 2018)

  • PYTHON

The python programming language emerged nearly three decades ago. However, it has quickly gained a significant amount of popularity and usage by developers who work on correcting bugs and extending the functionalities of the code. (Zola, 2021) 

Andrew Zola, in his work on software development defines Python as: "a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted object-oriented programming language." He goes further to state that its "users can interpret statements in several operating systems, including UNIX-based systems, Mac OS, MS-DOS, OS/2 and various versions of Microsoft Windows 10 and Windows 11." (Zola, 2021) 

  • RUBY

Ruby, according to TechTarget: "is an open source, interpreted, object-oriented programming language created by Yukihiro Matsumoto, who chose the gemstone's name to suggest 'a jewel of a language.'" (Contributor, 2010)

Ruby is designed to be simple, complete, extensible, and portable. The simplistic design of this programming language has both added to its extensiveness and portability; all factors that makes it readable by anyone who is familiar with any modern programming language. (TechTarget, 2010)

  •  INTERNET WEBSITE COOKIES 

According to Sean Michael Kerner, a cookie is "information that a website puts on a user's computer. Cookies store limited information from a web browser session on a given website that can then be retrieved in the future." (Kerner, 2021)

  • USER INTERFACE (UI)

Fred Churchville defines UI as "the point of human-computer interaction and communication in a device. This can include display screens, keyboards, a mouse and the appearance of a desktop. It is also the way through which a user interacts with an application or a website." Churchville (2021)

  • PAGE SOURCE

The Free Dictionary defines page source as "the HTML code (source code) of a Web page (HTML document)" Dictionary, (2023) 

  • HYPERLINKS

The Free Dictionary defines this as "a word, phrase, picture, icon, etc., in a computer document on which a user may click to move to another part of the document or to another document." Dictionary (2023)

  • META TAGS

"A meta description tag is a snippet of HTML code in a web page header that summarizes the content that is on the web page. The META description is usually placed after the title tag and before the meta keywords tag. When optimizing a web page for search engines (SEO), it is considered a best practice to use meta description tags." Contributor (2012)

  • JQUERY

According to Alexander S. Gillis, "JQuery is an open-sourced JavaScript library that simplifies creation and navigation of web applications. Specifically, jQuery simplifies HTML Document Object Model (DOM) manipulation, Asynchronous JavaScript and XML (Ajax) and event handling. Additionally, jQuery incorporates JavaScript functionalities by manipulating CSS properties to add effects such as fade-ins and outs for website elements. jQuery is a widely used JavaScript library and is supported by thousands of user-created plug-ins." Gillis, (2019)









Reference List

Churchville, F. (2021) What is User Interface (UI)? definition from searchapparchitecture, App Architecture. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchapparchitecture/definition/user-interface-UI (Accessed: January 19, 2023).

Contributor, T.T. (2012) What is meta description tag?: Definition from TechTarget, WhatIs.com. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/meta-description-tag (Accessed: January 19, 2023).

Contributor, T.T. (2010) What is Ruby?: Definition from TechTarget, WhatIs.com. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Ruby (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

Dictionary, T.F. (2023) Hyperlink, The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Available at: https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/hyperlink (Accessed: January 19, 2023).

Dictionary, T.F. (2023) Page source, The Free Dictionary. Farlex. Available at: https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/page+source (Accessed: January 19, 2023).

Gillis, A.S. (2019) What is jQuery? definition from whatis.com, TheServerSide.com. TheServerSide.com. Available at: https://www.theserverside.com/definition/jQuery?_gl=1%2A1ra1kyl%2A_ga%2AMTA5MzMxMDk0Mi4xNjczNjY5NDQ1%2A_ga_TQKE4GS5P9%2AMTY3NDE2OTk4MS4xNy4xLjE2NzQxNzA0MDYuMC4wLjA.&_ga=2.131341455.1457039308.1674169981-1093310942.1673669445 (Accessed: January 19, 2023).

Kerner, S.M. (2021) What is a cookie?, Software Quality. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/cookie (Accessed: January 19, 2023).

Loshin, P. (2021) What is a computer program?, Software Quality. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/program (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

Lutkevich, B. (2020) What is HTML and how does hypertext markup language work?, TheServerSide.com. TheServerSide.com. Available at: https://www.theserverside.com/definition/HTML-Hypertext-Markup-Language?_gl=1%2A1bue0tc%2A_ga%2AMTM4ODUwMDE2Ni4xNjczMzY0NDY0%2A_ga_TQKE4GS5P9%2AMTY3MzM2NDQ2NC4xLjEuMTY3MzM2NDg4NS4wLjAuMA..&_ga=2.212334100.1094315193.1673364464-1388500166.1673364464 (Accessed: January 10, 2023).

Macrovector (2021) Free vector: Programmer work with working day symbols flat illustration, Freepik. Available at: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/programmer-work-with-working-day-symbols-flat-illustration_15329611.htm#query=programming&position=24&from_view=keyword (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

McKenzie, C. (2018) What is JavaScript?: Definition from TechTarget, TheServerSide.com. TheServerSide.com. Available at: https://www.theserverside.com/definition/JavaScript?_gl=1%2A8zbadl%2A_ga%2AMTA5MzMxMDk0Mi4xNjczNjY5NDQ1%2A_ga_TQKE4GS5P9%2AMTY3MzcwNzkwNi40LjEuMTY3MzcwODQwMy4wLjAuMA..&_ga=2.256971657.349349017.1673669445-1093310942.1673669445 (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

McKenzie, C. (2021) What is cascading style sheets (CSS)? definition from theserverside, TheServerSide.com. TheServerSide.com. Available at: https://www.theserverside.com/definition/cascading-style-sheet-CSS?_ga=2.136404018.349349017.1673669445-1093310942.1673669445&_gl=1%2Anu1xc9%2A_ga%2AMTA5MzMxMDk0Mi4xNjczNjY5NDQ1%2A_ga_TQKE4GS5P9%2AMTY3MzY5ODIzMi4zLjEuMTY3MzY5ODI1MC4wLjAuMA.. (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

Wikipedia (2023) Computer Programming, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_programming (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

 Zola, A. (2021) What is the python programming language?, WhatIs.com. TechTarget. Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Python?_gl=1%2A1nvb7zm%2A_ga%2AMTA5MzMxMDk0Mi4xNjczNjY5NDQ1%2A_ga_TQKE4GS5P9%2AMTY3MzcwNzkwNi40LjEuMTY3MzcxMDU2OC4wLjAuMA..&_ga=2.156456121.349349017.1673669445-1093310942.1673669445 (Accessed: January 14, 2023).

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