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What does "keyword" mean in programming?

keyword is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

A reserved word in a programming language that has a special meaning and cannot be used as an identifier. Examples include if, else, return, class, and const.

Example

"You cannot use 'class' as a variable name because it is a keyword."

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