To check for plagiarism, code checker software is built to identify similar matches in content. The software scans a database for similar code content, identifies its components, and then compares it to the content of other work. The software will then build a report that showcases any similarities between the submitted code and other source code.
According to the creators of the plagiarism detection tool MOSS, the software checks code for plagiarism through keyword analysis and by looking at groups and sequences of words.
However, in some cases, paraphrasing is not detected because the duplicate content in the text may be different enough that it doesn’t get identified as a match. The software also scans for matches by comparing the style of writing and identifying the order of words. This creates a “fingerprint” of the document, making it easier to detect plagiarism.
This combination of methods to detect copied code is the best method to ensure original content.
Can Codio detect cheating?
Your students learn by completing original work and submitting that work for grading and feedback. Codio can help prevent plagiarism and detect cheating. To help ensure academic integrity, Codio’s platform offers the following code plagiarism checking and cheating prevention tools.