A program is a sequence of coded instructions that a computer can interpret and execute to perform a specific task or a set of tasks. Programs are the fundamental units of software, written in various programming languages and converted into a format that computers can understand and process (called machine code). They range from simple scripts accomplishing singular tasks to complex systems like operating systems or large software applications. Programs dictate how a computer operates and interacts with other software, hardware, and users, forming the basis of all computer functionality.
