No one knows for sure yet how quantum computers will be programmed. While many scientists and engineers are working on building the actual quantum computers, others are working to figure out how they can be programmed.

Right now, we know that once quantum computers are built and working, they might be used to solve very specific, difficult math problems, leaving normal computers to do easier, routine work. Programmers who will use the quantum computer to solve these difficult problems will need to learn how to describe the problem in a language that a quantum computer can understand, and interpret the answer the quantum computer gives.

Even without knowing the details of what the final quantum computer might look like, there are scientists working on developing this language - how to describe mathematical problems in "quantum computer operations". 60-70 years ago, very similar work was being done with classical computers, which led to the development of some of the first programming languages for normal computers. While there have of course been many improvements since then, the basic way that was found for describing math problems for a normal computer remains the same today. For quantum computers, there are many ideas being tested, but the ultimate answer remains to be found!