Fundamentals of software: what do we call the ordered sequence of instructions that tells a computer how to process data and perform specific tasks?

Introduction / Context:
At the heart of computing is the notion that a general-purpose machine executes a defined sequence of instructions. The artifact that organizes those instructions into a purposeful workflow is known as a program.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We distinguish between raw data and the instructions that operate on it.
• A single instruction is not the same as a complete, ordered set.
• Control signals originate from executing programs, not vice versa.

Concept / Approach:
A program is an executable specification: a list of instructions, structured with control flow (sequence, selection, iteration), that directs how input data are transformed into outputs. Data are passive, while a program is active and prescriptive.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Definitions in introductory CS texts consistently define a program as a sequence or set of instructions executed by a computer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:
Conflating configuration data with a program; configuration may guide behavior but is not executable instruction code by itself.

Final Answer:
program