When programmers sit down to write a program, they create one or more files with instructions in it. The instructions inside the files are usually in english and are stored in as ASCII text. The file containing the original english instructions is called the source and the instructions inside it are collectively called source code. Natural language programming languages resemble english (well, at least they do in english speaking countries). The ability to think logically and express that logic in your spoken language makes it easier to produce program instructions. The source code is nearly always copyrighted and licensed to the original author, or the software development firm the programmer works for.