Semiconductor memory device including multi-level cell and programming method thereof

Abstract

There are provided a semiconductor memory device and an operating method thereof. A semiconductor memory device may include a memory cell array, a peripheral circuit, a control logic, and one or more programs. The memory cell array may include a plurality of memory cells. The peripheral circuit may perform a program operation on the memory cell array. The control logic may control the peripheral circuit to program the memory cell array. The one or more programs are configured to be executed by the control logic. The programs may include an instruction for pre-programming one or more memory cells to be programmed to one or more target program states to have threshold voltage distributions lower than the target program state.