Which term specifically refers to a set of instructions that a computer can execute?

Prepare for the Fundamentals of Computing Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each featuring hints and thorough explanations. Get exam-ready!

Multiple Choice

Which term specifically refers to a set of instructions that a computer can execute?

Explanation:
The main idea here is that a computer runs a sequence of instructions known as code. Code represents the instructions written for a computer to perform tasks, whether it's written in a high-level language that’s compiled or in machine language that runs directly on the processor. RAM, by contrast, is the fast memory that holds data and the currently running instructions while a program is executing; it’s not the set of instructions itself. The Internet is a network of computers, not a set of executable instructions, and a USB flash drive is just storage hardware, though it can hold code. So the term that best fits a set of instructions a computer can execute is code.

The main idea here is that a computer runs a sequence of instructions known as code. Code represents the instructions written for a computer to perform tasks, whether it's written in a high-level language that’s compiled or in machine language that runs directly on the processor. RAM, by contrast, is the fast memory that holds data and the currently running instructions while a program is executing; it’s not the set of instructions itself. The Internet is a network of computers, not a set of executable instructions, and a USB flash drive is just storage hardware, though it can hold code. So the term that best fits a set of instructions a computer can execute is code.

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