Computer programming is the process of writing, testing, debugging/troubleshooting, and maintaining the source code of computer programs. This source code is written in a programming language. The code may be a modification of an existing source or something completely new. The purpose of programming is to direct the resources of a computer to accomplish certain desired behavior.  The process of writing source codes requires expertise in many different subjects, including knowledge of the desired business or organization processes, specialized algorithms, and formal logic.

Programs are written in languages that connect the needs of the organization desiring a program to the very detailed and often obscure operational needs of the computer.  Computers only understand changes in electrical voltages or magnetic states.  Many programming languages have been developed – current popular computer languages include Visual Basic, C++, C#, and Java.