Which term describes a high-level, language-agnostic description of an algorithm's steps?

• A. Source code
• B. Pseudo code
• C. Flowchart
• D. Binary code

Answer: (B)

Pseudocode is used to describe an algorithm’s steps in a way that is independent of any programming language. It presents the logic in plain, readable language with simple control structures, so you can reason about how the algorithm should work without worrying about syntax or language-specific details. This makes it ideal for planning, discussing, and refining an approach before committing to actual code, and it can be translated into any programming language later.

Source code, by contrast, is a concrete implementation in a particular language. A flowchart shows the steps graphically, emphasizing the sequence and decisions but not giving a language-agnostic textual description. Binary code is machine-level instructions that computers execute, not a readable outline of steps for humans.

So, describing an algorithm’s steps in a high-level, language-agnostic way is pseudocode.