AP Computer Science Principles VOCAB

Credit: definitons from "5 Steps to a 5: Ap Computer Science Principles (2023)" by Julie Schacht Sway

Abstraction

the process of removing unnecessary details to focus on essential ones.

Algorithm

a set of steps to do a task or solve a problem.

Analog data

a continuous series of data values that change smoothly over time.

API

stands for Application Programming Interface. APIs define how other programs can interface or interact with their programming module or application.

Argument

holds a value that is passed to a procedure when it is called. An argument can be a constant, a variable, or an expression to evaluate.

Arithmetic operators

These are the symbols used in computer programs for mathematical operations.

• addition

• subtraction

• multiplication

/ division

MOD modulus math results in the remainder after dividing

Assignment statement

stores a value in a variable. The right side of the assignment statement is evaluated, and the result is stored in the variable on the left side of the assignment operator, which is the ‹- (get symbol) for this course.

Authentication

involves verifying users requesting access to a system before providing admittance.

Bandwidth

measures the amount of data that can be sent over a network in a fixed amount of time.

Bias

“--” in computer science is the discrimination for or against certain groups or individuals. The bias can come from the data used or the way the code was written.

Binary number system

uses the values 0 and 1 and is used by computers at the lowest level to execute code.

Binary search

an algorithm that uses a "divide and conquer" process. The data must be sorted, and each iteration searches in the middle of the dataset. After determining if the value is higher or lower than the value at the current position, the half of the dataset that does not contain the value is no longer included in subsequent iterations of the search.

Bit

a binary digit, which can only be 0 or 1.

Boolean values

These are values that can only be true or false.

Byte

made up of 8 bits.

Certificate Authority (CA)

issues digital certificates that verify that the data encryption code belongs to the organization. This enables the transfer of confidential data such as passwords or credit card information on the associated website.

Citizen scientists

volunteers who work with a scientific team to help collect or review data from their home, which can be in a separate location than the scientific team.

Clarity

The “--” of a program means how easy it is to understand the code.

Classifying data

involves organizing and identifying categories that fit the data to make it easier to search for patterns and trends leading to insights.

Cleaning data

the process of identifying incomplete or duplicate data and ensuring the data is uniform (St. or street) without changing the meaning of the data.

Code segment

A “--” can be a single line or a collection of lines of code that are part of a program.

Code statement

sections of a program with an action to be executed.

Collaboration

“--” is people working together to produce a quality product.

Comments

used to document a program. They should be used to include a brief description of the program, along with who wrote it and when, and to document complicated sections of code. Comments are for people and are ignored by the computer.

Computer virus

A “--” is spread by attaching itself to a valid file. It can then replicate and spread, either collecting or destroying data and programs.

Computing device

a piece of equipment that can run a computer program.

Computing network

a connection of computing devices that send and receive data.

Computing system

when multiple computing devices and programs work together for a specific purpose, such as managing the power grid.

Concatenation

when strings are joined or "glued" together to form a new string.

Condition

“--” use the relational operators (

Creative Commons Licensing

allows creators to assign different levels of copyright access to their intellectual property.

Crowdfunding

uses resources like the Internet to ask people across the globe to donate money to help fund their project or need.

Crowdsourcing

provides opportunities for anyone with access to a site to participate in various ways, such as providing feedback, helping to solve problems, offering funding, or offering assistance finding employment.

Cybersecurity

protects our computing devices and networks from attacks and unauthorized access.

Data abstraction

“--” is assigning a data value to a list. The list can be used and updated without needing multiple copies of the data in the program or knowing the details of how it is stored.

Data mining

analyzes large datasets to search for patterns that can lead to new insights for the organization.

Data stream

segments of data packaged in packets sent through a network such as the Internet.

Debugging

“--” is finding and correcting errors in a program.

Decidable problem

A problem is decidable when an algorithm can be created that provides a yes or no answer for all instances of the problem.

Decision problem

A “--” only needs a yes or no answer.

Decryption

the process of deciphering an encrypted message so it can be read.

Digital data

made up of discrete data values. These look like stairsteps and can approximate analog data.

Digital divide

The “--” describes those who lack access to the Internet based on location, economic, or accessibility reasons.

Distributed computing system

when multiple computers are used to process a program or application. The computers each have their own processor and communicate over a network. The Internet is an example of a distributed computing system.

Efficiency

The “--” of an algorithm measures the amount of resources, such as memory and time, it takes to run.

Element

Each data value in a list is an element. It is referenced through its index.

Encryption

the process of converting data into a coded format.

Event-driven programming

when a program operates in a wait state and an action, such as pressing a button, provides input and triggers a section of code to run.

Expression

a combination of variables or values and operations to be performed on them.

Expressions

are evaluated to determine a single value.

Fault-tolerant

A system, such as the Internet, is fault-tolerant when redundancy is built in to ensure processing can occur even when sections of the system are not working.

Filtering data

“--” involves selecting a subset of data, sometimes based on its classifications, to use for further analysis.

Heuristic

A “--” is a solution to a problem that is not optimal or the best but is close enough to work, especially when the optimal solution is unreasonable.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

The World Wide Web uses HTTP to send requested web pages across the Internet.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)

“--” provides the secure processing of a web page. Always check for HTTPS before making a purchase online to ensure your credit card number is encrypted.

Incremental development process

An “--” subdivides a program into small modules. Each section is coded, tested, and approved and then added to the larger application and tested with other completed parts of it.

Information

data that has been analyzed and has meaning applied to it. Information can guide decision-making for the data owners.

Intellectual property

Anything a person creates using a computer is the intellectual property of that person.

Internet Protocol (IP) address

An “--” is a unique number assigned each time a device connects to the Internet. It is how the network knows where to find your device to get and send requested information.

Iterative

means to repeat code a specified number of times or until a condition is true (for this course) using a loop structure.

Iterative development process

The “--” repeats the steps of coding, testing, and feedback to refine a section of code until it is complete.

Keylogging

“--” software is malware that captures keystrokes and stores them in a file that is later transmitted to whoever planted the software.

Library

a collection of programs where the executable code is made available to other programmers. The entire library or a module from it can be imported into a program.

Linear search

a sequential search of a dataset. It starts at the beginning and checks each value to see if it matches the target value being sought.

Lists

a collection of data values stored in one variable. Each data value, or element, is referenced by its index position.

Logic error

occurs when the code runs but produces incorrect results.

Logical operators

The logical operators are AND, OR, and NOT and are used to create more complex conditions that evaluate to a Boolean value (true or false).

Lossless data compression

a technique to make files smaller and allows the original file to be restored when the data is decompressed.

Lossy data compression

“--” techniques can achieve more compression than lossless techniques, but some data is lost, and the original file cannot be restored.

Malware

“--” stands for malicious software and includes anything placed on a device, unknown to the owner, for destructive purposes.

Metadata

“--” is data about data, such as the author of a document. It is used to help organize and find data.

Modularity

a style of programming that breaks the requirements into smaller pieces until each module does a specific task or set of tasks.

Modulus

This operation provides only the remainder after dividing.

Multifactor authentication

uses more than one method to ensure someone trying to access an account should be granted access.

Open access

Data that is open access is freely available online with limited, if any, copyright restrictions.

Open source

“--” software is available for anyone to use or modify without restrictions.

Optimization problem

attempts to find the best solution for the problem.

Overflow error

occurs when a number is too large for the number of bits the programming language allocates for it. The sign bit for the number is flipped as the number "overflows" of its assigned range of bits.

Packets

“--” are created by breaking data into same-size segments (except possibly the last one). A header is created with the sending and receiving IP addresses, the size of the packet, and its position in the reassembled data stream.

Parallel computing system

use multiple computers to process a section of a program at the same time. The results are then combined for the complete solution. The devices in a parallel computing system share memory.

Parameter

used to accept data values into a procedure. The values are sent through arguments when the procedure is called.

Patterns in data

Raw data is analyzed for patterns to help gain insights into its meaning.

PII (Personally Identifiable Information)

any information that identifies you.

Phishing

A “--” uses messages and websites that look like another organization's official site to fool users into clicking on it and entering information such as passwords and account data.

Plagiarism

copying information or computational artifacts without direct permission from the owner/creator or without permission via the use of Creative Commons licensing.

Procedural Abstraction

Once a procedure is defined, tested, and working, it can be encapsulated or protected so users of it only need to know the input to send it and the output to expect from it. The details of how the procedure accepts the input and produces the output do not need to be known and are abstracted away.

Procedure

a defined block of code that does a specific task or tasks. It does not run in a program until it is called in the program, and it can be called as many times as needed.

Program

a collection of code to perform a specific task.

Program behavior

A program's behavior is how it performs when it is running and how users interact with the program.

Program documentation

describes a program's purpose and how it achieves it. Documentation is used by anyone who needs to review and understand the code. Documentation can also include the user's manual on how to use the program and help text to solve errors that occur.

Program input

data sent to a program. It can be in a variety of formats, depending on what the program will accept.

Program output

data produced by the program and sent by the program to a device such as a screen or printer or file.

Prototype

a draft or incomplete version used to obtain feedback from users and team members before allocating resources such as time and money to create the final version.

Protocols

“--” are rules. The Internet has protocols that are open for everyone to ensure that different manufacturers create equipment that can connect to and communicate with all other devices and equipment following the same protocols.

Pseudocode

a combination of natural language, such as English, and program code. It is used to design the structure or outline of a program prior to writing the code.