Definition of software programming

Data generated in the backend is passed to the frontend and presented to the user. While some organizations have separate backend and frontend development teams, the line between the two layers is rarely black and white. Therefore, many developers write code for both the backend and frontend. This is known as full-stack development.

NOTE: Backend may also be written "back end" as a noun or "back-end" as an adjective. For simplicity, "backend" the closed compound word has become an acceptable term for both.

The definition of Backend on this page is an original TechTerms. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, you can use the green citation links above. The goal of TechTerms. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. If you have feedback about the Backend definition or would like to suggest a new technical term, please contact us. Elmar Degenhart : Car companies are good at validation and homologation and lack software development skills, while software companies have the opposite problem, the IT industry has always valued speed of development more than perfecting the product, while the auto industry has tended to veer toward perfecting a product over rushing it out.

Andrew Ziem : 'The Cloth or Something' project has been fun, but it has also been a distraction from the software development needed to get out the next release of the BleachBit software application. Select another language:. Please enter your email address: Subscribe. Discuss these Software Development definitions with the community: 0 Comments. Notify me of new comments via email. Cancel Report. Create a new account. Log In. Powered by CITE. Are we missing a good definition for Software Development?

Don't keep it to yourself Submit Definition. The ASL fingerspelling provided here is most commonly used for proper names of people and places; it is also used in some languages for concepts for which no sign is available at that moment. There are obviously specific signs for many words available in sign language that are more appropriate for daily usage.

Browse Definitions. Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web! Two clicks install ». Quiz Are you a words master? Frequently synonymous with a microcomputer. Execution speed of a computer. MIPS rate is one factor in overall performance. Bus and channel speed and bandwidth, memory speed, memory management techniques, and system software also determine total throughput.

DOD An unplanned event or series of events resulting in death, injury, occupational illness, or damage to or loss of data and equipment or property, or damage to the environment. Syn: accident. A symbol chosen to assist human memory and understanding; e. Construction of programs used to model the effects of a postulated environment for investigating the dimensions of a problem for the effects of algorithmic processes on responsive targets.

ISO A functional unit that modulates and demodulates signals. One of the functions of a modem is to enable digital data to be transmitted over analog transmission facilities. The term is a contraction of modulator-demodulator. Using a modem to communicate between computers. MODEM access is often used between a remote location and a computer that has a master database and applications software, the host computer.

A structured software design technique, breaking a system into components to facilitate design and development. Syn: functional decomposition, hierarchical decomposition. See: abstraction. IEEE Software composed of discrete parts. See: structured design. IEEE The degree to which a system or computer program is composed of discrete components such that a change to one component has minimal impact on other components. Varying the characteristics of a wave in accordance with another wave or signal, usually to make user equipment signals compatible with communication facilities.

Contrast with demodulate. Converting signals from a binary-digit pattern [pulse form] to a continuous wave form [analog]. Contrast with demodulation. See: unit. A table which provides a graphic illustration of the data elements whose values are input to and output from a module. IEEE A mode of operation in which two or more processes [programs] are executed concurrently [simultaneously] by separate CPUs that have access to a common main memory.

Contrast with multi-programming. See: multi-tasking, time sharing. Syn: parallel processing. Contrast with multi-tasking. See: time sharing. IEEE A mode of operation in which two or more tasks are executed in an interleaved manner. See: multi-processing, multi-programming, time sharing. Myers A test coverage criteria which requires enough test cases such that all possible combinations of condition outcomes in each decision, and all points of entry, are invoked at least once.

Contrast with branch coverage, condition coverage, decision coverage, path coverage, statement coverage. A device which takes information from any of several sources and places it on a single line or sends it to a single destination.

IEEE Computer systems that perform more than one primary function or task are considered to be multipurpose. In some situations the computer may be linked or networked with other computers that are used for administrative functions; e.

NBS A method to determine test set thoroughness by measuring the extent to which a test set can discriminate the program from slight variants [mutants] of the program.

Contrast with error seeding. National Bureau of Standards. Now National Institute for Standards and Technology. National Institute for Standards and Technology. Gaithersburg, MD A federal agency under the Department of Commerce, originally established by an act of Congress on March 3, as the National Bureau of Standards.

The Institute's overall goal is to strengthen and advance the Nation's science and technology and facilitate their effective application for public benefit. The National Computer Systems Laboratory conducts research and provides, among other things, the technical foundation for computer related policies of the Federal Government.

A type of microelectronic circuit used for logic and memory chips. A database organization method that allows for data relationships in a net-like form.

A single data element can point to multiple data elements and can itself be pointed to by other data elements. Contrast with relational database. A junction or connection point in a network, e. IEEE 1 Examines software elements that are not designated safety-critical and ensures that these elements do not cause a hazard.

Generally, safety-critical code should be isolated from non-safety-critical code. This analysis is to show this isolation is complete and that interfaces between safety-critical code and non-safety-critical code do not create hazards. A reformation of a program by immediately relinking the entire program following the testing of each independent module. Integration testing is then conducted on the program as a whole.

Syn: "big bang" integration. Contrast with incremental integration. A high priority interrupt that cannot be disabled by another interrupt. It can be used to report malfunctions such as parity, bus, and math co-processor errors. IEEE A value whose definition is to be supplied within the context of a specific operating system. This value is a representation of the set of no numbers or no value for the operating system in use.

IEEE Data for which space is allocated but for which no value currently exists. IEEE A string containing no entries. Note: It is said that a null string has length zero. In object oriented programming, A self contained module [encapsulation] of data and the programs [services] that manipulate [process] that data. NIST A code expressed in machine language ["1"s and "0"s] which is normally an output of a given translation process that is ready to be executed by a computer.

Syn: machine code. Contrast with source code. See: object program. IEEE A software development technique in which a system or component is expressed in terms of objects and connections between those objects.

IEEE A programming language that allows the user to express a program in terms of objects and messages between those objects. A technology for writing programs that are made up of self-sufficient modules that contain all of the information needed to manipulate a given data structure.

The modules are created in class hierarchies so that the code or methods of a class can be passed to other modules. New object modules can be easily created by inheriting the characteristics of existing classes. See: object, object oriented design.

IEEE A computer program that is the output of an assembler or compiler. IEEE Pertaining to a system or mode of operation in which input data enter the computer directly from the point of origin or output data are transmitted directly to the point where they are used. For example, an airline reservation system. See: conversational, interactive, real time. Usually, operating systems are predominantly software, but partial or complete hardware implementations are possible.

IEEE The period of time in the software life cycle during which a software product is employed in its operational environment, monitored for satisfactory performance, and modified as necessary to correct problems or to respond to changing requirements.

IEEE An exception that occurs when a program encounters an invalid operation code. An information processing technology that converts human readable data into another medium for computer input.

An OCR peripheral device accepts a printed document as input, to identify the characters by their shape from the light that is reflected and creates an output disk file. For best results, the printed page must contain only characters of a type that are easily read by the OCR device and located on the page within certain margins. When choosing an OCR product, the prime consideration should be the program's level of accuracy as it applies to the type of document to be scanned.

Thin glass wire designed for light transmission, capable of transmitting billions of bits per second. Unlike electrical pulses, light pulses are not affected by random radiation in the environment. NIST Modifying a program to improve performance; e. A relational database programming system incorporating the SQL programming language. A registered trademark of the Oracle Corp. ISO In a calculator, the state in which the calculator is unable to accept or process the number of digits in the entry or in the result.

See: arithmetic overflow. IEEE An exception that occurs when the result of an arithmetic operation exceeds the size of the storage location designated to receive it. Contrast with serial. IEEE A constant, variable or expression that is used to pass values between software modules.

Syn: argument. An error detection method in data transmissions that consists of selectively adding a 1-bit to bit patterns [word, byte, character, message] to cause the bit patterns to have either an odd number of 1-bits [odd parity] or an even number of 1-bits [even parity]. ISO A binary digit appended to a group of binary digits to make the sum of all the digits, including the appended binary digit, either odd or even, as predetermined.

ISO A redundancy check by which a recalculated parity bit is compared to the predetermined parity bit. Contrast with check summation, cyclic redundancy check [CRC]. A high-level programming language designed to encourage structured programming practices.

ISO A character string that enables a user to have full or limited access to a system or to a set of data. IEEE A change made directly to an object program without reassembling or recompiling from the source program. IEEE A sequence of instructions that may be performed in the execution of a computer program. IEEE Analysis of a computer program [source code] to identify all possible paths through the program, to detect incomplete paths, or to discover portions of the program that are not on any path.

IEEE Software maintenance performed to improve the performance, maintainability, or other attributes of a computer program. Contrast with adaptive maintenance, corrective maintenance.

IEEE A requirement that imposes conditions on a functional requirement; e. Equipment that is directly connected a computer. A peripheral device can be used to input data; e. Syn: peripheral equipment. Synonymous with microcomputer, a computer that is functionally similar to large computers, but serves only one user. IEEE An audit conducted to verify that a configuration item, as built, conforms to the technical documentation that defines it.

See: functional configuration audit. IEEE A requirement that specifies a physical characteristic that a system or system component must posses; e. IEEE 1 In image processing and pattern recognition, the smallest element of a digital image that can be assigned a gray level. This term is derived from the term "picture element". The hardware and software which must be present and functioning for an application program to run [perform] as intended.

A technique a CPU can use to learn if a peripheral device is ready to receive data or to send data. In this method each device is checked or polled in-turn to determine if that device needs service.

The device must wait until it is polled in order to send or receive data. This method is useful if the device's data can wait for a period of time before being processed, since each device must await its turn in the polling scheme before it will be serviced by the processor.

Contrast with interrupt. A type of microelectronic circuit in which the base material is positively charged. The relative degree of repeatability, i. It is the result of resolution and stability. See: accuracy, bias, calibration. IEEE 1 The process of analyzing design alternatives and defining the architecture, components, interfaces, and timing and sizing estimates for a system or component. See: detailed design. IEEE A review conducted to evaluate the progress, technical adequacy, and risk resolution of the selected design approach for one or more configuration items; to determine each design's compatibility with the requirements for the configuration item; to evaluate the degree of definition and assess the technical risk associated with the selected manufacturing methods and processes; to establish the existence and compatibility of the physical and functional interfaces among the configuration items and other items of equipment, facilities, software and personnel; and, as applicable, to evaluate the preliminary operational and support documents.

A flat board that holds chips and other electronic components. The board is "printed" with electrically conductive pathways between the components. The computer file that contains the establishment's current production data. Processing may include the use of an assembler, a compiler, an interpreter, or another translator to prepare the program for execution. The instructions may include statements and necessary declarations.

IEEE A specification language with special constructs and, sometimes, verification protocols, used to develop, analyze, and document a program design. IEEE A computer program that has been purposely altered from the intended version to evaluate the ability of program test cases to detect the alteration.

See: testing, mutation. A programmable logic chip. See: programmable logic device. A logic chip that is programmed at the user's site.

Contrast with PROM. A chip which may be programmed by using a PROM programming device. It can be programmed only once. It cannot be erased and reprogrammed. Each of its bit locations is a fusible link. An unprogrammed PROM has all links closed establishing a known state of each bit. Programming the chip consists of sending an electrical current of a specified size through each link which is to be changed to the alternate state.

This causes the "fuse to blow", opening that link. IEEE A language used to express computer programs. See: computer language, high-level language, low-level language. IEEE Analysis to ensure that all portions of the program follow approved programming guidelines.

See: code audit, code inspection. NIST A management document describing the approach taken for a project. The plan typically describes work to be done, resources required, methods to be used, the configuration management and quality assurance procedures to be followed, the schedules to be met, the project organization, etc. Project in this context is a generic term.

Some projects may also need integration plans, security plans, test plans, quality assurance plans, etc. See: documentation plan, software development plan, test plan, software engineering. PROM programmer. NBS The use of techniques of mathematical logic to infer that a relation between program variables assumed true at program entry implies that another relation between program variables holds at program exit.

IEEE An exception that occurs when a program attempts to write into a protected area in storage. ISO A set of semantic and syntactic rules that determines the behavior of functional units in achieving communication.

Using software tools to accelerate the software development process by facilitating the identification of required functionality during analysis and design phases. A limitation of this technique is the identification of system or software problems and hazards.

See: rapid prototyping. A combination of programming language and natural language used to express a software design. If used, it is usually the last document produced prior to writing the source code.

FDA Establishing confidence that process equipment and ancillary systems are compliant with appropriate codes and approved design intentions, and that manufacturer's recommendations are suitably considered. FDA Establishing confidence that process equipment and sub-systems are capable of consistently operating within established limits and tolerances.

FDA Establishing confidence that the process is effective and reproducible. FDA Establishing confidence through appropriate testing that the finished product produced by a specified process meets all release requirements for functionality and safety. IEEE 1 A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that an item or product conforms to established technical requirements. The operational techniques and procedures used to achieve quality requirements.

High frequency electromagnetic waves that emanate from electronic devices such as chips and other electronic devices. An electromagnetic disturbance caused by such radiating and transmitting sources as electrostatic discharge [ESD], lightning, radar, radio and TV signals, and motors with brushes can induce unwanted voltages in electronic circuits, damage components and cause malfunctions.

See: electromagnetic interference. The term random access means that each memory location [usually 8 bits or 1 byte] may be directly accessed [read from or written to] at random. ISO A limit check in which both high and low values are stipulated. A structured software requirements discovery technique which emphasizes generating prototypes early in the development process to permit early feedback and analysis in support of the development process.

Contrast with incremental development, spiral model, waterfall model. See: prototyping. A memory chip from which data can only be read by the CPU. The CPU may not store data to this memory. IEEE Pertaining to a system or mode of operation in which computation is performed during the actual time that an external process occurs, in order that the computation results can be used to control, monitor, or respond in a timely manner to the external process.

See: conversational, interactive, interrupt, on-line. A fast-response [immediate response] on-line system which obtains data from an activity or a physical process, performs computations, and returns a response rapidly enough to affect [control] the outcome of the activity or process; e. Contrast with batch processing. Documentation of changes made to the system.

A record of change can be a written document or a database. Normally there are two associated with a computer system, hardware and software. Changes made to the data are recorded in an audit trail. IEEE 1 The process of defining or generating a process or data structure in terms of itself.

Computer architecture that reduces the complexity of the chip by using simpler instructions. Reduced instruction set does not necessarily mean fewer instructions, but rather a return to simple instructions requiring only one or a very few instruction cycles to execute, and therefore are more effectively utilized with innovative architectural and compiler changes. Systems using RISC technology are able to achieve processing speeds of more than five million instructions per second.

Regions are used to separate testing from production [normal use]. Syn: partition. A small, high speed memory circuit within a microprocessor that holds addresses and values of internal operations; e. Each microprocessor has a specific number of registers depending upon its design.

See: testing, regression. Database organization method that links files together as required. Relationships between files are created by comparing data such as account numbers and names.

A relational system can take any two or more files and generate a new file from the records that meet the matching criteria. Routine queries often involve more than one data file; e. Contrast with network database, flat file. IEEE The formal notification and distribution of an approved version. See: version. IEEE The ability of a system or component to perform its required functions under stated conditions for a specified period of time.

See: software reliability. IEEE 1 A condition or capability needed by a user to solve a problem or achieve an objective. See: design requirement, functional requirement, implementation requirement, interface requirement, performance requirement, physical requirement.

IEEE 1 The process of studying user needs to arrive at a definition of a system, hardware, or software requirements. See: prototyping, software engineering. IEEE The period of time in the software life cycle during which the requirements, such as functional and performance capabilities for a software product, are defined and documented. IEEE A process or meeting during which the requirements for a system, hardware item, or software item are presented to project personnel, managers, users, customers, or other interested parties for comment or approval.

Types include system requirements review, software requirements review. Contrast with code review, design review, formal qualification review, test readiness review. ISO The length of time specified for data on a data medium to be preserved. IEEE A trace produced from historical data recorded during the execution of a computer program.

Note: this differs from an ordinary trace, which is produced cumulatively during program execution. See: execution trace, subroutine trace, symbolic trace, variable trace. Relative to software changes, revalidation means validating the change itself, assessing the nature of the change to determine potential ripple effects, and performing the necessary regression testing.

IEEE A process or meeting during which a work product or set of work products, is presented to project personnel, managers, users, customers, or other interested parties for comment or approval. Types include code review, design review, formal qualification review, requirements review, test readiness review.

Contrast with audit, inspection. IEEE A measure of the probability and severity of undesired effects. Often taken as the simple product of probability and consequence. DOD A comprehensive evaluation of the risk and its associated impact.

The degree to which a software system or component can function correctly in the presence of invalid inputs or stressful environmental conditions. IEEE A subprogram that is called by other programs and subprograms.

Note: This term is defined differently in various programming languages. See: module. Data is transmitted and received in serial format. DOD Freedom from those conditions that can cause death, injury, occupational illness, or damage to or loss of equipment or property, or damage to the environment.

DOD A term applied to a condition, event, operation, process or item of whose proper recognition, control, performance or tolerance is essential to safe system operation or use; e. DOD Those computer software components and units whose errors can result in a potential hazard, or loss of predictability or control of a system.

A peripheral input device which senses some variable in the system environment, such as temperature, and converts it to an electrical signal which can be further converted to a digital signal for processing by the computer. Contrast with parallel. A high speed computer in a network that is shared by multiple users. It holds the programs and data that are shared by all users. ANSI 1 An automatic device that uses feedback to govern the physical position of an element.

An unintended alteration of a program's behavior caused by a change in one part of the program, without taking into account the effect the change has on another part of the program.

See: regression analysis and testing. During testing the computational hardware, the external environment, and even code segments may be simulated.

Contrast with emulation. IEEE A device, computer program, or system that behaves or operates like a given system when provided a set of controlled inputs. Contrast with emulator. A simulator provides inputs or responses that resemble anticipated process parameters.

Its function is to present data to the system at known speeds and in a proper format. IEEE The process of estimating the amount of computer storage or the number of source lines required for a software system or component.

Contrast with timing. A standard method of interfacing a computer to disk drives, tape drives and other peripheral devices that require high-speed data transfer. ANSI Programs, procedures, rules, and any associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a system. Contrast with hardware.

See: application software, operating system, system software, utility software. An inherent, possibly accidental, trait, quality, or property of software; e. IEEE A representation of software created to facilitate analysis, planning, implementation, and decision making. The software design description is used as a medium for communicating software design information, and may be thought of as a blueprint or model of the system.

See: structured design, design description, specification. NIST A collection of material pertinent to the development of a software module. Contents typically include the requirements, design, technical reports, code listings, test plans, test results, problem reports, schedules, notes, etc. Syn: software development file. NIST The project plan for the development of a software product. Contrast with software development process, software life cycle.

IEEE The process by which user needs are translated into a software product. Note: these activities may overlap or be performed iteratively. IEEE A software development technique in which two or more functionally identical variants of a program are developed from the same specification by different programmers or programming teams with the intent of providing error detection, increased reliability, additional documentation or reduced probability that programming or compiler errors will influence the end results.

See: specification; specification, requirements; specification, design; software design description; test plan, test report, user's guide. IEEE A deliverable or in- process document produced or acquired during software development or maintenance. Specific examples include but are not limited to:. IEEE The application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software; i.

See: project plan, requirements analysis, architectural design, structured design, system safety, testing, configuration management. IEEE The hardware, software, and firmware used to perform a software engineering effort.

Typical elements include computer equipment, compilers, assemblers, operating systems, debuggers, simulators, emulators, test tools, documentation tools, and database management systems. ODE, CDRH The identification of safety-critical software, the classification and estimation of potential hazards, and identification of program path analysis to identify hazardous combinations of internal and environmental program conditions. See: risk assessment, software safety change analysis, software safety code analysis, software safety design analysis, software safety requirements analysis, software safety test analysis, system safety.

IEEE Source code, object code, job control code, control data, or a collection of these items. Contrast with software element. NIST Period of time beginning when a software product is conceived and ending when the product is no longer available for use. The software life cycle is typically broken into phases denoting activities such as requirements, design, programming, testing, installation, and operation and maintenance. Contrast with software development process. IEEE 1 the probability that software will not cause the failure of a system for a specified time under specified conditions.

The probability is a function of the inputs to and use of the system in the software. The inputs to the system determine whether existing faults, if any, are encountered. IEEE An evaluation of software elements to ascertain discrepancies from planned results and to recommend improvement. This evaluation follows a formal process.

Syn: software audit. See: code audit, code inspection, code review, code walkthrough, design review, specification analysis, static analysis. IEEE Analysis of the safety-critical design elements affected directly or indirectly by the change to show the change does not create a new hazard, does not impact on a previously resolved hazard, does not make a currently existing hazard more severe, and does not adversely affect any safety-critical software design element.

See: software hazard analysis, system safety. IEEE Verification that the safety-critical portions of the design are correctly implemented in the code. See: logic analysis, data analysis, interface analysis, constraint analysis, programming style analysis, noncritical code analysis, timing and sizing analysis, software hazard analysis, system safety.

IEEE Verification that the safety-critical portion of the software design correctly implements the safety-critical requirements and introduces no new hazards. See: logic analysis, data analysis, interface analysis, constraint analysis, functional analysis, software element analysis, timing and sizing analysis, reliability analysis, software hazard analysis, system safety.

IEEE Analysis evaluating software and interface requirements to identify errors and deficiencies that could contribute to a hazard. See: criticality analysis, specification analysis, timing and sizing analysis, different software systems analyses, software hazard analysis, system safety. IEEE Analysis demonstrating that safety requirements have been correctly implemented and that the software functions safely within its specified environment.

Tests may include; unit level tests, interface tests, software configuration item testing, system level testing, stress testing, and regression testing. Contrast with object code. See: source program, programming language. IEEE A computer program that must be compiled, assembled, or otherwise translated in order to be executed by a computer.

Contrast with object program. See: source code. Program source code written without a coherent structure. Implies the excessive use of GOTO instructions. Contrast with structured programming. NBS Test data based on input values that are likely to require special handling by the program. See: error guessing; testing, special case.

IEEE A document that specifies, in a complete, precise, verifiable manner, the requirements, design, behavior,or other characteristics of a system or component, and often, the procedures for determining whether these provisions have been satisfied. Contrast with requirement.

See: specification, formal; specification, requirements; specification, functional; specification, performance; specification, interface; specification, design; coding standards; design standards. IEEE Evaluation of each safety-critical software requirement with respect to a list of qualities such as completeness, correctness, consistency, testability, robustness, integrity, reliability, usability, flexibility, maintainability, portability, interoperability, accuracy, auditability, performance, internal instrumentation, security and training.

NIST A specification that documents how a system is to be built. Contrast with design standards, requirement. NIST 1 A specification written and approved in accordance with established standards. NIST A specification that documents the functional requirements for a system or system component. It describes what the system or component is to do rather than how it is to be built. Often part of a requirements specification.

NIST A specification that documents the interface requirements for a system or system component. IEEE A document that sets forth the performance characteristics that a system or component must possess. These characteristics typically include speed, accuracy, and memory usage. IEEE A document which describes the as built version of the software. NIST A specification that documents the requirements of a system or system component. It typically includes functional requirements, performance requirements, interface requirements, design requirements [attributes and constraints], development [coding] standards, etc.

IEEE A diagram that depicts all of the specifications for a given system and shows their relationship to one another. IEEE A model of the software development process in which the constituent activities, typically requirements analysis, preliminary and detailed design, coding, integration, and testing, are performed iteratively until the software is complete.

Syn: evolutionary model. Contrast with incremental development; rapid prototyping; waterfall model. Written procedures [prescribing and describing the steps to be taken in normal and defined conditions] which are necessary to assure control of production and processes.

IEEE 1 A condition or mode of existence that a system, component, or simulation may be in; e.