APCSP SUMMER VOCAB

==

The equality operator (sometimes read: "equal equal") is used to compare two values, and returns a Boolean (true/false). Avoid confusion with the assignment operator "=".

Abstraction

Pulling out specific differences to make one solution work for multiple problems. (watch this video: https://youtu.be/L1-zCdrx8Lk)

Aggregation

A computation in which rows from a data set are grouped together and used to compute a single value of more significant meaning or measurement. Common aggregations include: Average, Count, Sum, Max, Median, etc.

Algorithm

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

API

A collection of commands made available to a programmer.

Array

A data structure in JavaScript used to represent a list.

ASCII

ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is the universally recognized raw text format that any computer can understand.

asymmetric encryption

Used in public key encryption, it is a scheme in which the key to encrypt data is different from the key to decrypt.

Bandwidth

Transmission capacity measured by bit rate.

Binary

A way of representing information using only two options.

Bit rate

(sometimes written bitrate) the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time. e.g. 8 bits/sec.

Bit

A contraction of "Binary Digit". A bit is the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1.

Boolean Expression

In programming, an expression that evaluates to True or False.

Boolean

A single value of either TRUE or FALSE.

Caesar Cipher

A technique for encryption that shifts the alphabet by some number of characters.

Callback function

A function specified as part of an event listener; it is written by the programmer but called by the system as the result of an event trigger.

Canvas

A user interface element to use in HTML/JavaScript which acts as a digital canvas, allowing the programmatic drawing and manipulation of pixels, basic shapes, figures, and images.

Cipher

The generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption.

code

(v) to write code, or to write instructions for a computer.

Computationally Hard

A "hard" problem for a computer is one in which it cannot arrive at a solution in a reasonable amount of time.

Concatentate

To link together or join. Typically used when joining together text Strings in programming (e.g. "Hello, "+name).

Conditionals

Statements that only run under certain conditions.

Cracking encryption

When you attempt to decode a secret message without knowing all the specifics of the cipher, you are trying to "crack" the encryption.

Data Type

All values in a programming language have a "type" - such as a Number, Boolean, or String - that dictates how the computer will interpret it. For example, 7+5 is interpreted differently from "7"+"5".

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in your algorithm or program.

Decryption

A process that reverses encryption, taking a secret message and reproducing the original plain text.

DNS

The service that translates URLs to IP addresses.

Documentation

A description of the behavior of a command, function, library, API, etc.

Encryption

A process of encoding messages to keep them secret, so only "authorized" parties can read it.

Event handling

An overarching term for the coding tasks involved in making a program respond to events by triggering functions.

Event listener

A command that can be set up to trigger a function when a particular type of event occurs on a particular UI element.

Event-driven program

A program designed to run blocks of code or functions in response to specified events (e.g. a mouse click).

Event

An action that causes something to happen.

Expression

Any valid unit of code that resolves to a value.

For Loop

A particular kind of looping construct provided in many languages. Typically, a for loop defines a counting variable that is checked and incremented on each iteration in order to loop a specific number of times.

for loop

A typical looping construct designed to make it easy to repeat a section of code using a counter variable. The for loop combines the creation of a variable, a boolean looping condition, and an update to the variable in one statement.

Function

A piece of code that you can easily call over and over again.

Global Variable

A variable whose scope is "global" to the program, it can be used and updated by any part of the code. Its global scope is typically derived from the variable being declared (created) outside of any function, object, or method.

Heuristic

A problem-solving approach (algorithm) to find a satisfactory solution where finding an optimal or exact solution is impractical or impossible.

HTTP

HyperText Transfer Protocol - the protocol used for transmitting web pages over the Internet.

IETF

Internet Engineering Task Force - develops and promotes voluntary Internet standards and protocols, in particular the standards that comprise the Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP).

If-Statement

The common programming structure that implements "conditional statements".

Image

A type of data used for graphics or pictures.

Innovation

A novel or improved idea, device, product, etc., or the development thereof.

Internet

A group of computers and servers that are connected to each other.

IP Address

A number assigned to any item that is connected to the Internet.

Iterate

To repeat in order to achieve, or get closer to, a desired goal.

Key Event

In JavaScript, an event triggered by pressing or releasing a key on the keyboard. For example: "keyup" and "keydown" are event types you can specify. Use event.key - from the "event" parameter of the onEvent callback function - to figure out which key was pressed.

Latency

Time it takes for a bit to travel from its sender to its receiver.

Library

A collection of commands/functions, typically with a shared purpose.

List

A generic term for a programming data structure that holds multiple items.

Local Variable

A variable with local scope is one that can only be seen, used, and updated by code within the same scope. Typically, this means the variable was declared (created) inside a function -- includes function parameter variables.

Loop

The action of doing something over and over again.

Lossless Compression

A data compression algorithm that allows the original data to be perfectly reconstructed from the compressed data.

Lossy Compression

(or irreversible compression) a data compression method that uses inexact approximations, discarding some data to represent the content. Most commonly seen in image formats like .jpg.

metadata

Data that describes other data. For example, a digital image may include metadata that describes the size of the image, number of colors, or resolution.

Models and Simulations

A program which replicates or mimics key features of a real-world event in order to investigate its behavior without the cost, time, or danger of running an experiment in real life.

modulo

A mathematical operation that returns the remainder after integer division. Example: 7 MOD 4 = 3.

Moore's Law

A prediction made by Gordon Moore in 1965 that computing power will double every 1.5-2 years; it has remained more or less true ever since.

Net Neutrality

The principle that all Internet traffic should be treated equally by Internet Service Providers.

One-pager

A business/corporate term for a one-page document that summarizes a large issue, topic, or plan.

Packets

Small chunks of information that have been carefully formed from larger chunks of information.

Parameter

An extra piece of information that you pass to the function to customize it for a specific need.

Pivot Table

In most spreadsheet software, it is the name of the tool used to create summary tables.

pixel

Short for "picture element," it is the fundamental unit of a digital image, typically a tiny square or dot which contains a single point of color of a larger image.

Private Key

In an asymmetric encryption scheme, the decryption key is kept private and never shared, so only the intended recipient has the ability to decrypt a message that has been encrypted with a public key.

Protocol

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

Public Key Encryption

Used prevalently on the web, it allows for secure messages to be sent between parties without having to agree on, or share, a secret key. It uses an asymmetric encryption scheme in which the encryption key is made public, but the decryption key is kept private.

Random Substitution Cipher

An encryption technique that maps each letter of the alphabet to a randomly chosen other letter of the alphabet.

Return Value

A value sent back by a function to the place in the code where the function was called from - typically asking for a value (e.g. getText(id)) or the result of a calculation or computation of some kind. Most programming languages have many built-in functions that return values, but you can also write your own.

RGB

The RGB color model uses varying intensities of (R)ed, (G)reen, and (B)lue light added together to reproduce a broad array of colors.

Selection

A generic term for a type of programming statement (usually an if-statement) that uses a Boolean condition to determine, or select, whether or not to run a certain block of statements.

String

Any sequence of characters between quotation marks (ex: "hello", "42", "this is a string!").

Summary Table

A table that shows the results of aggregations performed on data from a larger data set, hence a "summary" of larger data. Spreadsheet software typically calls them "pivot tables".

TCP

Transmission Control Protocol - provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of a stream of packets on the internet. TCP is tightly linked with IP and usually seen as TCP/IP in writing.

UI Elements

On-screen objects, like buttons, images, text boxes, pull-down menus, screens, and so on.

URL

An easy-to-remember address for calling a web page (like www.code.org).

User Interface

The visual elements of a program through which a user controls or communicates with the application. Often abbreviated as UI.

Variable Scope

Dictates what portions of the code can "see" or use a variable, typically derived from where the variable was first created. (See Global vs. Local)

Variable

A placeholder for a piece of information that can change.

while loop

A programming construct used to repeat a set of commands (loop) as long as (while) a boolean condition is true.