What does it mean to execute a program?

Executing a program refers to the process of running a program or a set of instructions on a computer system. When a program is executed, the computer's processor reads and carries out the instructions specified in the program, allowing it to perform tasks such as calculations, data processing, and providing outputs based on the input received.

Compiling a program involves converting the code written in a high-level programming language into machine language that the computer can understand, but does not equate to executing the program. Writing a program's instructions pertains to the development phase, where the code is created, rather than its execution. Rewriting code for optimization is focused on improving the program's performance or readability, which also doesn't encompass the act of executing the program. Thus, the definition that aligns with executing a program is the one that describes running the program on a computer.