1. adjective
a) Exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical.
The literal translation is “hands full of bananas” but it means empty-handed.
b) Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties.
A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
2. noun
A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
Wikipedia foundation.