_______ is the process of finding errors and fixing them within a program.

Writing a computer program almost always involves mistakes, whether small typing errors or deeper logical flaws that cause the program to behave incorrectly. The process of locating these errors, understanding why they occur, and correcting them so that the program runs as intended is called debugging.

The name comes from the term "bug," used to describe an error or defect in a program. Debugging typically involves running the program, observing where it fails or produces wrong results, tracing the fault back to the specific line or logic responsible, and then fixing that code.

This is different from compiling, which is the process of translating source code written in a programming language into machine-readable instructions, and from executing, which simply means running a program that has already been prepared. Scanning, in a computing context, usually refers to checking files for viruses or converting a physical document into digital form, neither of which involves fixing errors in program code.

Exam tip: remember that "debug" always relates to fixing errors, while "compile" relates to translating code and "execute" relates to running it; these are three distinct stages in developing and using a program.