Source code
The source code is the basis of every website. It is also called source code. However, the user of the programs usually does not get to see the source code.
Writing source code
The source code is written in a programming language, mostly with HTML, PHP or Java. For writing a source code a text editor is needed. When writing source code, it is very important to follow the syntax of a programming language. Even a misplaced comma can cause the program to crash. The more complex a program is, the more extensive the source code. Simple programs such as a pocket calculator can get by with a few hundred lines of text. In contrast, the source code of operating systems comprises several million lines.
Translation of the source code
After the completion of the source code it must be translated into a readable machine code. The source code can be translated thereby either off-line with a Compiler into a machine code or in run time with the JIT Compiler or Interpreter. In some cases, these two methods are also mixed, whereby the source code is first translated into a so-called intermediate code. This intermediate code is then translated into the actual machine code at runtime using a JIT compiler or interpreter. Java bytecode and Common Intermediate Language are the best known examples of intermediate code. After the source code is translated, the program can be executed by the computer.
Source code optimization
In the field of search engine optimization, the source code also plays a major role. The cleanliness of the source code is crucial for the ranking of the website. If the source code is clean, all elements comply with the rules of standardized HTML. Faulty HTML programming can lead to the search engine robots not being able to identify the text to its full extent and, in the worst case, even to the identification being aborted. Among the most common errors are duplicate tags or the absence of the off tags. If the ranking of the website is not satisfactory, it is recommended to optimize the source text. Optimization is especially possible if the source code is written in normal HTML or CSS. The existing source code can be examined with free tools for faulty elements and list alternatives.
