The influence of syntax highlighting on reading program source code – eye-tracking research

Abstract

This article presents an empirical study investigating the role of syntax highlighting program source code. Eye-trackig data were collected from 13 computer science students, who were asked to search syntax errors in coloured and black-and-white code, while their screens were recorded. It was observed that syntax highlighting has not significant effect on the task execution. The eye- -tracking parameters for black-and-white code and for coloured code differed, but not significantly.