Introduction to Programming in Python: Data Types, Variables, Control Flow, and File I/O Study Guide | Quizlet

Interpreted Languages

Languages executed line-by-line at runtime, where each line is parsed and executed as the program runs, such as BASIC, Lisp, Perl, and Python.

Compiled Languages

Languages requiring a compiler to convert source code into machine code before execution, creating an object module linked to form an executable file, such as C, C#, and Fortran.

Hybrid Languages

Languages combining both compilation and interpretation to achieve speed while maintaining portability, such as Java using .jar files.

Assembly Language

A low-level language providing a one-to-one mapping of instructions to processor instructions, resulting in high performance but lacking portability.

Three Categories of Computer Problems

Computational problems (calculations and data processing), logical problems (reasoning and decision-making), and repetitive problems (tasks automated through repetition).

Abstraction

A key principle in computer science that simplifies complex systems by hiding lower-level details, enabling programmers to build higher-level functionalities.

Bit and Byte Specifications

A bit is a single binary digit ($0$ or $1$); a byte consists of $8$ bits and can represent $256$ different values ($0$ to $255$).

Binary Data Type Bit Lengths

Words consist of $16$ bits, longwords consist of $32$ bits, and long-longwords consist of $64$ bits.

String Immutability

The property of Python strings meaning they cannot be altered after creation; changing a string variable reassigns it rather than modifying the original string.

Exponentiation Operator (**)

An arithmetic operator that raises a number to a power, such as $3**3 = 27$.

Floor Division Operator (//)

An arithmetic operator that performs floor division, returning the largest integer less than or equal to the division result, such as $5 // 3 = 1$.

Modulo Operator (%)

An arithmetic operator that returns the remainder of a division, such as $5 \% 3 = 2$.

Python Type Conversion Functions

Built-in functions where str(x) converts to string, int(x) truncates floats to integer, float(x) converts integer to float, and round(x) rounds float to nearest integer.

Do-While Loop

A looping structure that executes its block of code at least once before evaluating its Boolean condition.

Array

A collection of elements, typically of the same data type, stored in contiguous memory locations.

1D Array Indexing Range

Indices in a one-dimensional array start at $0$ and extend up to $N-1$, where $N$ is the total number of elements.

IndexError in Python

The runtime error raised when attempting to access an array index outside its valid range of $0$ to $N-1$.

Numpy Library

A Python library that enhances array functionality by supporting multi-dimensional arrays, numerical computations, and broadcasting.

Break Statement

A flow control statement used to exit a loop prematurely when a specified condition is satisfied.

Continue Statement

A flow control statement that skips the rest of the current loop iteration and proceeds to the next iteration.

Integer Base Format Descriptors (d, b, o, x)

Field descriptors used for output formatting where d represents decimal, b represents binary, o represents octal, and x or X represents hexadecimal.

Numeric Format Descriptors (e, f)

Field descriptors used for output formatting where e or E represents exponential notation and f or F represents floating point format.

Basic File Open Modes ('r', 'w', 'a', 'x')

File access modes where 'r' is read-only, 'w' is write mode (overwrites), 'a' is append mode, and 'x' is exclusive creation.

File Pointer Functions (tell() and seek())

tell() returns the current file pointer position in bytes, while seek(offset) shifts the file pointer position to a specified location.

File Truncation Function (truncate())

A function that allows the caller to end a file at a specified length, discarding all data beyond that given size.