loc

Loc is a three-letter term that appears in several distinct contexts. Common uses include a software metric, an international coding system for trade locations, a regional border term, and a linguistic notation.

Lines of Code, abbreviated LOC, is a software metric that counts the number of lines in a program, module, or project. Variants include SLOC (source lines of code) and KLOC (thousand lines of code). Automated tools perform counts to help estimate size, effort, and productivity. However, LOC has limitations: it measures quantity rather than quality or complexity, and counting rules vary by language and methodology. As a result, LOC is often supplemented with other metrics to gauge software maintainability and quality.

UN/LOCODE, or United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations, is a five-character code used to designate locations for international trade and transport. Maintained by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, LOCODE supports logistics, documentation, and interoperability across borders. The code structure pairs an ISO country code with a location code, and it covers airports, seaports, rail terminals, and other trade points. It is widely used in shipping, customs, and supply chain systems.

Line of Control, abbreviated LoC in many references, refers to the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir region. Established after mid-20th-century conflicts, the LoC operates as a military line with periodic ceasefires and patrols, influencing regional security and diplomacy.

Locative usage in linguistics labels the locative case, often abbreviated loc or similar, indicating location or the place where an action occurs. It appears in historical grammars and linguistic notation to mark spatial relationships.