Kóða

Kóða is an Icelandic term that translates to "code" in English. It refers to a system of symbols, rules, or procedures that conveys information, instructions, or meaning. The word covers several related senses that appear in technology, science, and everyday speech.

In computing, kóði denotes the set of instructions that a computer can execute. This includes source code written in a programming language and, more broadly, the sequence of machine instructions produced by a compiler or interpreter. The idea is that a kóði expresses computational steps in a form that a machine can understand and run.

In cryptography and communications, a kóði can be a code or cipher used to conceal messages or organize data. This sense encompasses encoding schemes, encryption methods, and secret codes. The related verb dulkóða means to encrypt, and the noun kóðun (or dulkóðun) refers to the process of encoding or encryption.

Beyond technology, kóði is also used for standardized or conventional representations, such as codes used to classify information (for example, medical codes or country/airport codes) or shorthand systems in specialized fields. The term can be used metaphorically to describe a code of conduct or a set of rules governing behavior within a group or community.

Etymology and related terms vary, but the Icelandic word kóði belongs to a broader family of cognates across Nordic languages and other European languages, reflecting the broad concept of a rule-based system. In practice, inflected forms such as kóða appear in sentences according to Icelandic grammar.