Which of the following best describes a program?

A program can best be described as an application that can be executed by the user. This definition encompasses any software designed to perform specific tasks for the user, ranging from simple utilities to complex software suites. When discussing programs in the context of computing, it typically implies that the software is runnable by the end user, allowing interactive use or achieving specific objectives, such as word processing, gaming, or spreadsheet calculations.

The understanding of a program within computing generally focuses on its interactive capabilities and purpose from the user's perspective. This distinguishes it from hardware, which refers to physical devices; operating system services, which manage resources but do not represent user-executable applications; and background processes, which may run without user intervention but are not directly invoked by users for their intended tasks. Thus, the emphasis on the user's ability to execute and leverage the program encapsulates the essence of what a program is.