What is considered plagiarism in computing?

Plagiarism in computing is defined as presenting someone else's code as your own without proper acknowledgment. This act violates ethical standards and the principles of academic integrity. When an individual takes code or algorithms created by someone else and claims it as their own work, they misrepresent their own skills and contributions. This is particularly critical in programming and software development, where the originality of code is important for both intellectual property rights and the progression of technology.

In contrast, sharing code openly with attribution, citing sources in documentation, and modifying existing code for personal projects are all practices that respect the original creator's rights and promote transparency in the computing community. Attributing work demonstrates respect for the creator and helps others understand the origins of the code, which fosters a collaborative and ethical environment in software development.