What is a README file?

• A. Gives info about a program; written in all caps
• B. A binary executable program
• C. A file containing user passwords
• D. A log of program errors

Answer: (A)

A README file is a human-friendly guide that sits at the root of a software project and provides essential information about the program. It explains what the program does, how to install or set it up, how to run it, and basic usage with example commands. It may also list dependencies, build steps, configuration options, licensing, and how to contribute. READMEs are usually plain text or written in Markdown, meant for people to read before diving into code or documentation. They are not executable programs, not a storehouse of passwords, and not logs of errors. The purpose is to give a quick, practical overview so someone new can understand and start using the project.