source code

This term refers specifically to the high-level instructions written by humans, distinguishing it from binary or machine code that is executed by a computer. It is the primary asset in software development, representing the logic and architecture of a program.

In a professional context, the term is often used in discussions regarding "open source" versus "closed source" (proprietary) software. Because it is treated as a collective body of instructions, it is typically used as an uncountable noun in technical documentation, though it can occasionally be treated as countable when referring to different versions or specific sets of code.