Yes, a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) needs coding — but don’t imagine complex programming like C or Python. PLCs are programmed using simple logic instructions written in industrial languages such as Ladder Diagram (LD), Function Block Diagram (FBD), or Structured Text (ST). These languages are designed to be easy for electricians and automation engineers to understand. Ladder Diagram, for example, looks like an electrical circuit with contacts and coils — so even people with basic electrical knowledge can learn it quickly.
Think of PLC coding as teaching the controller what to do step by step — “If this sensor turns ON, then start the motor,” or “When the temperature crosses 60°C, stop the heater.” That’s the logic behind the code. Every industrial process — from conveyors and packaging machines to elevators — follows such coded instructions. So yes, PLC programming is essential, but it’s more about logic than heavy syntax. Once you understand inputs, outputs, and conditions, writing PLC code becomes as simple as explaining how a machine should behave.