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The term stellar population synthesis code is used for codes to carry out stellar population synthesis, the process of finding a combination of stars likely to be producing the spectrum of a particular galaxy or stellar cluster. Input includes a library of spectra of stars of various types. Modern models incorporate parameters such as initial mass function and star formation rate to create synthetic populations. Various combinations of stars could produce a typical galaxy spectrum, so assumptions pinning down likely stellar populations help produce plausible model populations. Examples: