coding
/ˈkəʊ.dɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkoʊ.dɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkō-diŋ/ (ame, mw)
coding — noun
- codingsingular
- codingsplural
1. the activity of writing the instructions that tell a computer what to do, especi
the activity of writing the instructions that tell a computer what to do, especially as a skill, hobby, or job.
Imani learned coding by building a small game for her younger brother.
headword as the activity / skill
The summer camp teaches coding to children from age eight upwards.
teach + coding (as a skill being taught)
Omar gave up his bank job to do coding full-time.
Many universities now offer coding as a basic subject in the first year.
After two years of coding at a startup, Talia moved into product design.
- programming
near-equivalent; 'programming' sounds slightly more formal and is preferred in academic and job titles
- software development
broader; covers design, testing, and delivery, not only writing code
用法筆記
Subject or object is usually a person, school, course, or job — coding here names a human activity. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is the act of writing, sense 2 is the written result.
常見錯誤
2. the lines of text written in a programming language that together form a compute
the lines of text written in a programming language that together form a computer program; the written instructions themselves rather than the act of writing them.
Ada spotted a single typo in the coding that crashed the whole website.
coding as the text you can inspect for errors
The coding behind the payment page was rewritten over a long weekend.
coding behind X (the program backing a feature)
Rafael printed out the coding and checked it line by line with a red pen.
Some of the original coding for the game has been lost since 1998.
- code
more common in everyday speech; 'coding' for this sense is slightly older and more formal
- source code
technical equivalent; preferred in software engineering writing
用法筆記
Subject is usually the instructions inside a specific program, app, or system — you can point at it, fix it, or print it. Distinguish from sense 1 (the human activity): if you can replace it with 'the code', this is sense 2; if you can replace it with 'programming', it is sense 1.
3. the practice of putting letters, numbers, names, or colours onto items so that a
the practice of putting letters, numbers, names, or colours onto items so that anyone looking at them can quickly tell which type or group they belong to.
Colour coding helps Stephanie find a customer's file in under five seconds.
colour coding (very common compound)
The coding of library books by subject makes it easier for visitors to browse.
coding of X by Y (criterion of grouping)
Hospitals use careful coding on blood samples to avoid mix-ups between patients.
Ritu introduced a new coding system for the warehouse so workers could locate parts faster.
- labelling
wider; refers to any kind of tag, not only a structured scheme
- classification
more formal and abstract; emphasises grouping by category rather than the visible marks
用法筆記
Object is usually a set of physical or organisational items — files, samples, products, stock. Often appears in the compound 'colour coding'. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 3 is the process of labelling; sense 4 is the set of labels you end up using.
常見錯誤
4. the actual set of letters, numbers, names, or colours that has been chosen to id
the actual set of letters, numbers, names, or colours that has been chosen to identify a particular kind of thing, looked at as a finished scheme.
The coding on the wires tells the electrician which one carries the live current.
coding on X (the visible marks themselves)
Older fire extinguishers use a different coding from the ones sold today.
different coding (treating it as a set you can compare)
Inês could not read the coding on the antique medicine bottles.
Each ski resort has its own coding for slope difficulty, which can confuse visitors.
- labelling scheme
more explicit; preferred in technical or professional writing
- marking
broader; refers to any visible mark, not specifically a structured set
用法筆記
Subject or object refers to a specific scheme already in place — 'the coding on the wires', 'the coding for slopes'. Distinguish from sense 3: if you can put 'system of' before it, you mean sense 3; if you mean the marks themselves on the items, you mean sense 4.
5. the way DNA holds the instructions that decide a feature of a living thing — for
the way DNA holds the instructions that decide a feature of a living thing — for example, its eye colour, a chemical it produces, or whether it can resist a disease.
The coding for eye colour sits on a small section of one chromosome.
coding for + biological trait
Scientists at the Tokyo lab studied the coding behind a rare blood disorder.
coding behind a disease or trait
A single change in the coding can switch off a whole protein in the cell.
Researchers compare the coding of mice and humans to find shared genes.
- genetic code
more technical; refers to the universal rules linking DNA to proteins
- genetic sequence
narrower; refers to the actual order of bases rather than the function-determining pattern
用法筆記
Object is always a biological trait or feature — eye colour, a disease, a protein. Commonly framed as 'the coding for [trait]' or 'the coding behind [trait]'. Mostly appears in scientific or popular-science writing.