Coding

Coding, also called programming, is how people tell computers what to do. A computer cannot think on its own. It needs step-by-step instructions written in a special language. Every app, game, and website you use was built with code. Learning to code is like learning a new language that lets you talk to computers.

What Coding Is Like

Coding is like writing a recipe for a computer. You have to be very specific. Computers follow instructions exactly. If you make a mistake in the code, called a bug, the program will not work right. There are many coding languages like Python, JavaScript, and Scratch. Each has its own rules and is good for different things.

A painting of Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer coder.
A painting of Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer coder. (Alfred Edward Chalon / Wikimedia Commons)

Why Coding Matters

Coding is behind almost everything digital. Video games are made with code. Websites and apps are built with code. Even robots and self-driving cars need code to work. Knowing how to code helps you solve problems and think logically. Many jobs in the future will involve coding.

Fun Facts

  • Scratch is a coding language designed for kids. It uses colorful blocks you snap together instead of typing words.
  • There are over 700 different programming languages in the world.
  • The average smartphone app has about 50,000 lines of code.

Did You Know?

The first computer bug was a real insect! In 1947, a moth got stuck in a computer at Harvard University and caused it to malfunction. The engineers taped the moth into their logbook and wrote found the first actual bug. That is why fixing code problems is still called debugging today!