Definitions for "Hardcoded"
The use of a constant, rather than a variable, for a value in the source code of software. If there is ever a need to change that value, it is difficult and error-prone, especially if the value is used in more than one place in a program.
A term used to describe unchaneable features built into software or hardware that has been permantly embedded onto a device.
In general, a value that can't be changed. For example, in a shell script with the command grep jane, the value jane is hardcoded; grep will always search for jane. But in the command grep $USER, the text that grep searches for is not hardcoded; it's a variable value.