Let's explore these two terms and how professionals use them, starting with what each one actually means.

What is coding?

Coding is, at its core, the act of translating instructions from a human language into a machine-readable one. To code, you write in programming languages such as ColdFusion, PHP or C#, giving the computer the instructions it needs to run the programs you or your team create. Any application, website or game is, in the end, a program — and coding is the work of writing it.

What is programming?

Programming is the broader process of building an executable software product that runs without errors. The programmer's job is to analyse a problem and design a working solution. Bringing an application to life usually takes several steps:

• Planning the application
• Designing it
• Testing its features
• Deploying it
• Maintaining it after launch

So programming isn't only coding — it also covers algorithms, architecture and much more.

The differences

Basic difference

Coding is the part of programming that turns logic into code a machine can read. Programming is the whole process of creating a product that meets certain standards and performs a defined task.

Tools

Coding needs few tools — a simple text editor is often enough, as long as you know your language's syntax. Programming adds document reviews and analysis, plus code-analysis tools, generators, databases, testing frameworks, compilers, debuggers and modelling — and the experience to use them and to design complex data structures.

Expertise

Coders need a solid grasp of a language's syntax and keywords. Programmers also design algorithms, model problems, process data and manage projects, applying analytical thinking to solve specific problems.

Outcome

Coding usually produces a small part of a project — a set of instructions for the computer. Programming yields a complete application, product or website that is ready to use.

How coding and programming work together

A quick example: imagine building an app to track your daily routine. First the programmer plans the structure, writes down the features, designs the app and considers anything else it should include. They hand that over to the coder, who turns those ideas into code the computer understands. The finished code comes back to the programmer, who polishes it — debugging, checking for errors and testing — before publishing the final product. Together, the two turn an idea into something people can actually use.