AP Computer Science Principles Course Study Guide

Flashcards covering key concepts and vocabulary from the AP Computer Science Principles course.

Creativity

An important part of innovation in computer science.

Abstraction

Minimizing extra details to focus on pertinent information, helping to manage complexity.

Data/Information

Input for computing; computation translates raw data into consumable information.

Algorithms

Develop solutions to computational problems through precise sequences of instructions.

Programming

The creation of software and algorithms that enable problem-solving.

The Internet

A group of connected computers and servers that facilitate data exchange.

Global Impact

The ways computation has changed communication and problem-solving.

Binary

A system representing information using only two options, typically 0 and 1.

Protocol

A set of rules governing data exchange or transmission between devices.

IP Address

A number assigned to any item connected to the Internet.

Packet

Small chunks of information carefully formed from larger pieces.

Network Redundancy

Having multiple backups to ensure reliability during high usage or failure.

DNS (Domain Name System)

Translates domain names to IP addresses.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol)

The protocol used for transmitting web pages over the Internet.

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

Ensures reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of packets.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer)

Standard security technology for establishing an encrypted link between a web server and a browser.

Malware

Software intended to damage or disable computers and computer systems.

Big Data

Datasets so large or complex that traditional methods for processing are inadequate.

Asymmetric Encryption

An encryption scheme where the key to encrypt data differs from the key to decrypt it.

Digital Divide

The gap between those with access to technology and those without.

Event-Driven Program

A program that runs code or functions in response to specified events.

Parameter

An extra piece of information you pass to a function to customize it.

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in an algorithm or program.

Local Variable

A variable only visible within the context it was created.

Global Variable

A variable accessible throughout the entire program.

Heuristic

A problem-solving approach that finds satisfactory solutions.

Compression

The process of reducing the size of data.

Encryption

A method of encoding messages to keep them secret.

Decryption

The process of reversing encryption to retrieve the original message.

Favicon

A small icon shown in the browser's address bar next to the URL.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A collection of commands made available to a programmer.

Variable Scope

Dictates what portions of the code can 'see' or use a variable.

Boolean Expression

An expression that evaluates to True or False.

Algorithm

A precise sequence of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer.