APCSP

Heuristic

A strategy or shortcut that helps find a good-enough solution faster when an exact solution is hard to find.

Syntax Error

A mistake in the code’s rules

Logic Error

A mistake in the code that doesn’t crash the program but causes it to behave incorrectly (e.g.

Runtime Error

An error that occurs while the program is running

Round-off Error

A small error that happens when a computer tries to represent very precise decimal numbers and has to round them.

Public Key Encryption

A secure way to send messages using two keys: one public (for encrypting) and one private (for decrypting). The public key is shared freely, while the private key is kept secret by its owner.

Reasonable Time

When an algorithm finishes in a time that grows at a manageable rate

Packets

Small chunks of data that are sent over the internet and reassembled at the destination to form the original message or file.

Selection

A programming structure that uses conditions (like 'if' statements) to choose between different actions.

Iteration

Repeating a block of code multiple times

Sequencing

The order in which steps in a program are carried out

Protocols

Rules that devices follow to communicate over the internet (like TCP/IP or HTTP).

Floating Point

A way computers store very small or very large decimal numbers

Parallel Programming

Running multiple pieces of a program at the same time to make it faster or more efficient.

Low-Level Programming Language

A language close to machine code

High-Level Programming Language

A language that’s easier for humans to understand

Private (Symmetric) Key Encryption

Uses a single, shared secret key to both encrypt and decrypt data. This means the sender and receiver must have access to the same key.