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Meaning & use

coding

noun·Everydaycomputing

Last updated

UK/ˈkəʊdɪŋ/
US/ˈkoʊdɪŋ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    The work of writing instructions in a programming language so that a computer can carry out a task.

    Grammar: No plural and no a: She teaches coding.

    Patterns

    • learn coding
    • coding for something

    Our school now offers coding to students from age nine.

    He spent the weekend coding, so the app was ready by Monday.

    Basic coding skills are useful in many jobs.

  2. noununcountablespecialist

    In research, the sorting of answers or observations into labeled categories so they can be analyzed.

    Grammar: Used in studies: the coding of interview responses.

    Patterns

    • the coding of something

    The coding of survey answers took the team three weeks.

    Two researchers did the coding separately to check they agreed.

  3. noununcountable

    A system of symbols or signals used to represent information, such as a color scheme.

    Grammar: Often with a modifier: color coding.

    Patterns

    • color coding

    Color coding helps nurses find the right medicine quickly.

    The coding on the label shows which factory made the part.

Common combinations

learn coding
Many adults learn coding online in the evenings.
coding language
Python is a popular coding language for beginners.
coding skills
Her coding skills got her the job.
coding bootcamp
He joined a twelve-week coding bootcamp.
color coding
Color coding made the filing system easy to follow.
coding error
A small coding error crashed the website.

Synonyms and how they differ

programming
Programming also covers designing and testing software, while coding can mean just the typing of the instructions.
software development
Software development is the whole process of making a product, so coding is only one part of it.
scripting
Scripting means writing short programs that automate tasks, a narrower activity than general coding.

Word family

code verb
to write computer instructions
code noun
a set of instructions or a system of symbols
coder noun
a person who writes code
decode verb
to turn a coded message into plain form

Commonly confused: coding or encoding?

coding vs encoding

Encoding means converting information from one form to another, such as text into binary, rather than writing a program.

Practice

A teacher says, 'We start coding in Python today.' What will the students do?

Make it your own

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