Sourcefile

Sourcefile, commonly written as source file, is a file containing source code in a programming language intended to be read by humans and processed by a compiler or interpreter. It serves as the primary input to software build processes and is combined with other source files to produce executables, libraries, or scripts. Source files are typically plain text and reside in a project's source tree, often organized by module or package.

Source files come with language-specific extensions, for example .c, .cpp, .h for C and C++, .java for Java, .py for Python, .js for JavaScript, .ts for TypeScript, .rb for Ruby, .go for Go, .rs for Rust, and .swift for Swift. Some languages use a single file per module while others may span multiple files. They may also include headers or import statements to declare dependencies and interfaces with other code units.

Contents of a source file usually include statements, declarations, and definitions, along with imports or includes, macros, and comments. They may require a particular structure, such as package or module declarations, and in many languages an entry point is designated by a main function or similar symbol. Source files can also contain documentation blocks and license headers.

Build and execution involve transforming source files into usable artifacts. Compilers translate them into object code or intermediate representations, which are then linked into executables or libraries. Interpreted languages may execute source files directly by a runtime or virtual machine. Source files are commonly managed in version control and subjected to linters, formatters, and tests to maintain quality and consistency.

Licensing and authorship information are often included within source files or their accompanying metadata, clarifying usage rights and attribution.