programmer

/ˌproʊˈgræmər/

/ˈprʌʊgræmə/

Other forms: programmers

Someone who writes software or programs for computers is called a programmer. If you develop an application for mobile devices, you can also call yourself a programmer.

Programmers use a variety of computer languages to write the code (or instructions) that helps computers do the things their users want them to do. There are programmers who specialize in specific languages which are useful in various industries — some are used by financial institutions and others by scientists, for example. Evidence of the dramatic way things change over time is clear from the shift in this word's meaning: in 1890, a programmer was an "event planner."

Definitions of programmer

1. noun

   a person who designs and writes and tests computer programs
   synonyms: coder, computer programmer, software engineer

   types:

   cracker

   a programmer who cracks (gains unauthorized access to) computers, typically to do malicious things

   hacker

   a programmer for whom computing is its own reward; may enjoy the challenge of breaking into other computers but does no harm

   cyber-terrorist, cyberpunk, hacker

   a programmer who breaks into computer systems in order to steal or change or destroy information as a form of cyber-terrorism

   type of:

   applied scientist, engineer, technologist

   a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

   computer user

   a person who uses computers for work or entertainment or communication or business