What is the name for computer code that humans can understand?

Compiled languages are translated entirely into machine code before execution, requiring a separate compilation step to generate an executable file. While this process enhances performance, it does not inherently make the code more human-readable since the resulting machine code is not easily understandable without specialized tools.

Interpreted languages are executed line by line, translating and executing each instruction at runtime. This immediate execution simplifies debugging and allows for dynamic code changes without recompilation. However, the interpretive nature does not inherently make the code more readable, as it still needs to follow the language's syntax rules.

Machine language consists of binary instructions directly understandable by computers, represented as sequences of 0s and 1s. This low-level language is specific to the hardware architecture and lacks human readability due to its complex and cryptic representation, making it challenging for programmers to write and maintain.