What is source code?

Source code refers specifically to the human-readable instructions written in a programming language by a programmer. It is the foundational component of software development, as it allows developers to write and modify the logic and functionality of a program in a way that is understandable. This code can then be compiled or interpreted into machine code, which the computer can execute.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different aspects of programming. The machine-readable code generated by a compiler represents the converted version of source code that is executable by computers but is not easily interpretable by humans. The binary representation of a program is the lowest level of representation that computers process, composed of zeros and ones, and is not intended for direct modification by programmers. Finally, the final output of a programming task may refer to the fully compiled and executable program or product but lacks the source code's modifiable nature. Thus, option B accurately describes source code by emphasizing its readability and modifiability.