As a noun, a program is a planned series of events, activities, or instructions, especially for a computer. As a verb, to program means to plan or to write instructions for a computer to follow.
From Late Latin *programma*, from Greek *programma* 'a written public notice', from *pro-* 'before' and *graphein* 'to write'. It originally meant something written down in advance, like an announcement.
A computer program is just 'writing before' the action happens—your code is a pre-written script for the machine. Even TV 'programs' share this idea: they’re scheduled and written ahead of time for you to watch later.
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