low-code

Meanings

adjectivelow-code (not comparable)

not comparablecomputing(of a development environment) Primarily involving a graphical user interface rather than a text-based one.
Some firms are turning to new, "low-code" application platforms that accelerate app delivery by dramatically reducing the amount of hand-coding required.
2014 June 9, Clay Richardson, John Rymer, “New Development Platforms Emerge For Customer-Facing Applications”, in Forrester
1 more example
Whereas no-code software aims at creating software applications entirely without writing any code in a programming language, low-code development takes a slightly relaxed perspective and is directed towards simplifying software development with less coding effort.
2021, Business Modeling and Software Design, page 345
not comparablecomputing(of an application) Programmed using a low-code development environment.
1 more example
Low-code applications can hence accumulate high complexity, bugs and other forms technical debt just as badly or even worse than traditional applications. However, the languages created for low-code platforms commonly lack features that would assist in their understanding and maintenance, such as the ability or organize them into files and modules, or even to add detailed comments attached to individual code elements.
2021, Leveraging Applications of Formal Methods, Verification and Validation, page 205

nounlow-code (uncountable)

uncountablecomputingThe practice of developing applications via a low-code development environment.
1 more example
However, the distinction between no-code and low-code is not always evident, and this extends to the low-code and no-code platforms themselves. Many technology product analysts regard no-code to be a subset of the low-code market because even the most powerful platforms need some amount of coding throughout the application development and deployment process.
2022 September 21, Giulia Interesse, “The Low-Code/No-Code Industry in China: Opportunities for Foreign Investors”, in China Briefing

First used in a report by Forrester published on June 9, 2014 (see quotation).

Cite this entry

APA

low-code. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/low-code

MLA

“low-code.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/low-code. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “low-code,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/low-code.

Source: low-code on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.