Khan Academy AP CSP Vocab Big Idea 3 - Algorithms and Programming

Sequencing

The sequential execution of steps in an algorithm or code in a program (like steps in a recipe)

Selection

A Boolean condition to determine which of two paths are taken in an algorithm or program

Iteration

The repetition of steps in an algorithm or program for a certain amount of times or until a certain condition is met

Linear search

An algorithm that iterates through each item in a list until it finds the target value

Binary search

An algorithm that searches a sorted list for a value by repeatedly splitting the list in half

Reasonable time

A run time for an algorithm that doesn't increase faster than a polynomial function of the input size. An unreasonable run time would increase superpolynomially

Heuristic

A technique that helps an algorithm find a good solution in a hard problem

Undecidable problem

A problem that is so logically difficult, we can’t ever create an algorithm that would be able to answer "yes or "no" for all inputs

Library

A collection of procedures that are useful in creating programs

Application Programming Interface (API)

A library of procedures and a description of how to call each procedure

Modularity

The separation of a program into independent modules that are each responsible for one aspect of the program's functionality

Traversal

Iteration over the items in a list