CS principles vocab flashcards

Decomposition

Breaking a program into smaller parts.

Abstraction

Managing complexity by focusing on relevant concepts.

Algorithm

A set of steps to solve a problem.

Control Structure

Changes the flow of the code.

Sequencing

Step-by-step execution of instructions.

Procedural Abstraction

Using methods we may not fully understand.

Pseudocode

Brief code explanation in plain language.

Top Down Design

Breaking a program into smaller parts.

SuperKarel

Similar to Karel but with additional commands.

Moore's Law

Computers double in processing speed annually.

APIs

Simplify complex tasks with defined communication methods.

Documentation

Instructions on functions, methods, and variables.

Cybercrime

Includes identity theft and stealing private information.

Iteration

Repetition of instructions a specified number of times, or until a condition is met.

Selection

Using a condition to determine which part of an algorithm is executed.

Indentation

Visual structure of code layout using tabs for hierarchy.

Parameter

Variable passed into a function from outside.

Pair Programming

Collaborative practice where two programmers work together on code.

Driver

Controls mouse and keyboard, focuses on coding tasks.

Navigator

Reads problem, plans actions, checks for errors.

Code

Instructions written for a computer in a program.

Programming Language

Set of rules converting code to machine output.

Hello World

Traditional first program printing 'Hello world'.

Boolean

True or false value.

Declare a Variable

Defining a variable for the first time.

Variable

Symbol or container holding a value.

Initialize a Variable

Giving a variable an initial value.

Assigning to a Variable

Updating a variable's value.

Arithmetic Operators

Include +, -, *, /, % for basic math tasks.

Canvas

Screen where graphics programs are drawn.

Coordinate System

Uses numbers to place objects in space.

Properties of an Object

Variables attached to an object.

Event

Action detected by a program like mouse clicks.

Callback Function

Function passed as a parameter for later use.

Computer

Device executing instructions according to a program.

Input Output (I/O)

Flow of information into and out of a program.

Logical Operator

Used to make logical associations between boolean values.

Or Operator

Logical operator '||' for ORing two boolean values.

And Operator

Logical operator '&&' for ANDing two boolean values.

Not Operator

Logical operator '!' to negate a boolean value.

!a

Will be true if a is false, and false if a is true

Comparison operator

Used to make comparisons between values

For Loop

Repeats code a fixed number of times

Randomize

Generating or selecting a random object

Pseudorandom

Not truly random, but appears random

Infinite Loop

A loop that continues endlessly

Sentinel

Value that breaks out of a loop

break statement

Exits the current loop without further execution

Loop-and-a-half

Loop with a break statement in the body

String

A sequence of characters

Return

Exits a function and provides a value

Return Value

Value returned from a function call

Local variable

Restricted to a specific scope

Standard Library

Baseline version of a programming language with built-in functions

Global variable

Accessible throughout a program

Array

Data structure holding values in order

Array Index

Position of an element in an array

Indexing into an array

Accessing a value at a specific index in an array

Push

Adding an item to a list or array

Pop

Removing the last item from an array

Array length

Number of elements an array can hold

Traversing an Array

Looping through an array to access each element

Iterate

Single run through the instructions in a loop

Iterating over an array

Looping through all elements of an array

Index

Position where array values are stored

splice()

Method to change array contents by adding, removing, or replacing elements

remove(index)

Function to remove an element at a specific index

ASCII

Standard protocol for encoding text as bits

Pixel Image

Image represented as a grid of color values

Hexadecimal

Base 16 number system using 16 digits

RGB Color Encoding

Scheme encoding colors with Red, Green, Blue

Data Compression

Encoding information using fewer bits

Lossless Compression

Compression without loss of information

Lossy Compression

Discarding data to save space

Steganography

Concealing secret messages within files

Copyright

Grants exclusive rights to creators

Public domain

Works not subject to copyright laws

URL

Uniform Resource Locator for internet resources

Protocol

Set of rules standardizing machine communication

Bitrate

Amount of data sent in a fixed time

Bandwidth

Capacity of data transfer measured by bitrate

Latency

Time for a bit to travel from sender to receiver

Network Device

Electronic device for communication between devices

Computing Devices

Physical artifacts running programs

Input Devices

Computing devices taking in information

Output Devices

Computing devices sending data to the user

Storage Devices

Computing devices remembering information

Computing Systems

Group of devices and programs working together

Computer Network

Interconnected devices sending or receiving data

Internet Protocol (IP)

Defines Internet address structure and assigns unique addresses to devices.

IPv6

New 128-bit version of the Internet Protocol.

Domain Name System (DNS)

Translates domain names into IP addresses.

Routing

Process of sending data between computers via routers.

Redundancy

Multiple paths between points for reliability and scalability.

Packets

Units of data sent over a network.

HTTP

Protocol for standardizing web server communication.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

Enables sending multiple ordered packets between computers.

DDoS Attack

Overloads a web server with requests to crash it.

Cybersecurity

Protocols for encrypting/decrypting information to prevent breaches.

Phishing

Deceptive emails/websites to gather personal information.