code 1. (software) Instructions for a computer in some programming language, often machine language (machine code).
The word "code" is often used to distinguish instructions from data (e.g. "The code is marked 'read-only'") whereas the word "software" is used in contrast with "hardware" and may consist of more than just code. Last updated: 2000-04-08
2. (cryptography) Some method of encryption or the resulting encrypted message. Last updated: 2006-11-10