Program animation refers to the interactive, dynamic display of programs in execution.
In many ways, a program animator is akin to a visual program debugger. In many other ways, though, it is not.
 | A debugger is generally aimed at expert programmers, providing them with tools for debugging programs that contain errors. Programmers use debuggers almost exclusively for tracking down errors in erroneous programs of their own creation. |
| A program animator is aimed at learners, providing them with tools for learning about programs, program execution, time complexity, and many other aspects of computing. Users of a program animator are more likely to be studying or carrying out experiments on well-crafted, correct programs than trying to ferret out problems in erroneous programs of their own creation. |