Programming and coding are like building with blocks, one is about how you plan your block tower, and the other is about actually stacking the blocks.
What's Coding?
Coding is when you use special instructions to tell a computer what to do. It’s like giving a robot step-by-step directions so it can draw a picture or count your toys. You write these instructions using code, which looks like a language only computers understand, but with practice, you learn how to speak it too.
What's Programming?
Programming is the bigger picture, it's about figuring out what needs to be done before you start writing code. It’s like planning your block tower ahead of time: deciding how many blocks you need, which way they should go, and what shape you want at the end.
So coding is the action, stacking the blocks. Programming is the plan, figuring out how to build that awesome tower before you even pick up a block. Programming and coding are like building with blocks, one is about how you plan your block tower, and the other is about actually stacking the blocks.
Examples
- A parent explains how to build a house using blueprints and tools, that's more like programming.
- Both activities help create something useful, but they're done in different ways.
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See also
- What are modules?
- What are programming languages?
- What is "Hello, World!"?
- Are personal electronics a risk to commercial aviation?
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