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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: