Listing (computer)

A listing or program listing is a printed list of lines of computer code or digital data (in human-readable form). In the early days of programming, it was used to hand-check a program and as permanent storage. It was also common in 1980s computer enthusiast magazines. Today, hard copy listings are seldom used because display screens can present more lines than formerly, programs tend to be modular, storage in soft copy is considered preferable to hard copy, and digital material is easily transmitted via networks, or on disks or tapes. Furthermore, data sets tend to be too large to be conveniently put on paper, and they are more easily searched in soft-copy form.