Coding vs. Programming - What Are The Differences?

A lot of times in our profession, we tend to interchangeably use these two terms "coding" and "programming" like they mean the same thing whereas they don't.

Here, we're going to distinguish these two terms from one another. Are you excited? If so, take a glass of water; sit back and enjoy...

As earlier stated, the two terms "coding" and "programming" are similar but not the same.

Coding is the process of generating codes from one language to the other. It is often classified as a subset of programming because it implements the steps involved in coding.

Programming is the process of developing an executable machine-level program that can be implemented to completion without any error(s) occurring. 

It is the process of formally writing codes so that the human input(s) and subsequent machine output(s) remain in sync.

Below are some other differences between "coding" and "programming"

• The machine can’t interact with human communications and it only understands the machine code which is the binary language. So, the main work of a coder is to translate the requirements into machine understandable language.

• Coding is the process of writing codes from one language to another whereas Programming is the process of building a program that can be used to carry out proper machine level outputs on a number of scales.

• Coding deals only on the code so it is less intimidating and less intensive especially for a beginner, compared to programming which deals with a program to control and interact with the machine to produce proper results and values.

• Coders mainly translate the requirements and their logic into a language that machines can understand whereas programming deals with much more than that. It’s not only used to analyze and develop the codes but also engage all the different artifacts to make the system perform in a proper way.

• Coding is the initial step of developing any software and thus it is much easier and simpler to analyze and understand than programming; which deals with different types of complex scenarios and programs to ensure the proper implementation of the product. in a definite way

• To become a programmer, different aspects of any approach needs to be put into consideration. In the case of coding, one just has to deal with the codes and concerned requirements. So complex programming requires a much more in-depth understanding and knowledge of the language.

• Coding can be defined as a part of the programming approach or a subset of programming, whereas programming can be defined as a superset of coding or its parent. It deals with different aspects of any programming base including the coding approach.

• Writing code is the beginning step and then programming is used to analyze and implement the same and produce the proper machine level output. It also involves all the critical parameters from debugging and compiling to testing and implementation.

• Coders need to have a thorough understanding of the working language. However, they mainly code as per the project needs and instructed information. This is the initial step of developing a software product. Programmers analyze and conceptualize the different aspects of communication and produce the correct machine outputs. It normally takes much more time for an individual to become a programmer than a coder.

• Coders only translate the requirement logics specified into a machine-understandable code without worrying about the details. But on the other hand, Programmers analyze and conceptualize different aspects of any program and also solutions to any problems that may or may not occur due to the process. In essence, programming is a wider scope of coding.

• Examples of coding languages are HTML and CSS while examples of programming languages are C++, Python, Java and JavaScript among others.

We hope the above distinctions are clear enough. Coding and programming are two related-yet-not-the-same terms in the computer industry.

Happy Coding!