Ap CSP Flashcards

Big Idea 1: Creative Development 🧠

Programming is a collaborative and creative process that brings ideas to life through the development of software.

Computing Innovation

A computing innovation uses a computer program to take in data, transform data, and output data.

Collaboration in Programming

Collaboration can occur in planning, testing, or designing; benefits include shared ideas, better solutions, fewer misconceptions, and less bias.

Pair Programming

Two programmers work together side-by-side on one computer to write the same code or algorithm.

User Interface

The inputs and outputs that allow a user to interact with a piece of software.

Camel Case

Naming convention where the first word is lowercase and each additional word is capitalized. Ex: stopButton

Input

Data sent into a computer for processing.

Output

Data sent from a program to a device.

Program

A collection of instructions that a computing device executes.

Code Segment

A smaller collection of statements that are part of a larger program.

Program Event

An action or occurrence like a click or key press that triggers behavior in a program.

Event-Driven Program

A program that responds to user or system events like clicks or inputs.

Sequential Program

A program that runs instructions in a set order.

Iterative Development Process

A development method where programmers create working prototypes and improve them through repeated cycles.

Incremental Development Process

A method where programmers build and test small parts of the program before adding them to the whole.

Program Documentation

A description of how parts of a program work; helps others understand and maintain the program.

Benefit of Documentation

It improves collaboration and makes the program easier to understand.

Most Common Documentation Style

Comments written directly in the code. Ex: //This on event allows so that clicking this button…

Library

A collection of reusable functions that can be used in different programs.

API (Application Program Interface)

Documentation that explains how functions in a library work, their parameters, and return values.

Syntax Error

An error caused by breaking the rules of the programming language (like punctuation or capitalization mistakes).

Example of Syntax Error

Using 'A' instead of 'a' when variables are case-sensitive.

Logic Error

An error in the program’s logic that leads to incorrect or unexpected results.

Example of Logic Error

A program that prints multiple grades because conditions are not mutually exclusive.

Run-Time Error

An error that occurs while the program is running, like dividing by zero.

Example of Run-Time Error

Display(5/0) causes the program to crash because division by 0 is undefined.

Overflow Error

An error caused by a number exceeding the computer’s allowed value range.

Example of Overflow Error

Storing x <— 2000*365 causes an overflow because the result is too large.

Debugging

The process of finding and fixing errors in a program.

Data

A collection of facts.

Number Base

The number of digits or digit combinations a system uses to represent values.

Decimal System (base 10)

Uses digits 0–9; e.g. “5729” in base 10 represents five thousand seven hundred twenty-nine.

Binary System (base 2)

Uses digits 0 and 1; e.g. “101” represents 5 (4 + 1).

Bit

The smallest unit of information on a computer (0 or 1).

Byte

A group of 8 bits; can represent 256 unique values.

Analog Data

Data measured continuously (e.g., sound volume, clock position).

Sampling

Recording an analog signal’s value at regular intervals to create digital data.

Data Abstraction

Filtering out unnecessary details to focus on the information needed.

Digital Data

Finite set of values approximating analog phenomena (e.g., video length in minutes).

Largest Value Formula

The max value for n bits is 2ⁿ − 1 (e.g., 7 bits → 2⁷ − 1 = 127).

Number of Values Formula

The count of values for n bits is 2ⁿ (e.g., 8 bits → 2⁸ = 256).

Data Compression

Packing data into a smaller space while preserving original information.

Run-Length Encoding

A lossless compression replacing repeats with counts (e.g., FFFFF → 5F).

Lossless Compression

Reduces size without losing any original data; exact reconstruction possible.

Lossy Compression

Reduces size by discarding some data; only an approximation can be reconstructed.

Correlation

A statistical measure (–1 to 1) of how two variables move together; does not imply causation.

Outlier

A data point that significantly deviates from the overall pattern.

Metadata

Data about data (e.g., file creation date); does not alter the primary data.

Data Cleaning

The process of fixing or removing incomplete, invalid, or inconsistent data.

Big Data

Extremely large datasets that may require distributed processing.

Data Mining

Examining large datasets to uncover patterns, correlations, or useful information.

Data Transformation

Modifying, filtering, combining, or visualizing data (e.g., converting liters→mL).

Bar Chart

A graph using rectangular bars to show categorical data values.

Scatter Plot

A chart of dots showing the relationship between two numeric variables.

Line Graph

A graph using lines to connect data points in a sequence (e.g., trend over time).

Histogram

A bar chart showing frequency distributions over continuous ranges.

Variable

A placeholder in your program for a value, named with letters or words.

Assignment Operator

Symbol (e.g., `=`) used to give a variable a value.

Global Variable

A variable declared outside functions/events; accessible anywhere.

Local Variable

A variable declared inside a function/event; exists only during its execution.

Data Type

The category of data a variable can hold (integer, string, list, boolean).

Integer

A whole number, positive or negative (e.g., 5 or -3).

String

Text enclosed in quotes (e.g., "Hello, CSP!").

Substring

A part of a string extracted from a larger string.

Concatenation

Using `+` to join two strings (e.g., "sun" + "rise" = "sunrise").

Slice

`slice(str, start, length)` returns a substring from `str`.

List

An ordered sequence of elements (also called an array).

Boolean

A true/false value used in conditionals.

NOT Operator

`!` reverses a boolean: `!true` → `false`.

AND Operator

`&&` returns true only if both operands are true.

OR Operator

`||` returns true if at least one operand is true.

Conditional (If)

Executes code only when its Boolean condition is true.

Else Statement

Executes alternative code when the `if` condition is false.

Nested Conditional

An `if` or `else` placed inside another `if`/`else`.

Element

An individual item in a list.

Index

The position number of an element in a list (starts at 1).

Accessing by Index

Retrieving a list element using its index (e.g., `list[2]`).

Assign Element

Changing a specific list element’s value by index.

Insert

Element: add a new item at a specified index, shifting others.

Append

Add a new element to the end of a list.

Remove

Delete an element from a list by index, shifting others.

Length of List

Return the number of elements in a list.

Loop Through List

Use a loop to visit each element in a list.

Filter List

Create a subset of list elements that meet a condition.

Linear Search

Check each list element in order until the target is found.

Binary Search

Search a sorted list by repeatedly halving the search interval.

Procedure (Function/Method)

A named group of instructions you can reuse.

Parameter

A variable listed in a procedure’s definition.

Argument

The actual value passed into a procedure’s parameter.

Return Statement

Ends a function and optionally sends back a value.

Procedural Abstraction

Simplifying code by using procedures to hide details.

Algorithm

A step-by-step set of instructions to solve a problem.

Sequencing

Executing instructions in a specific, linear order.

Selection

Choosing between paths using conditionals (`if`/`else`).

Iteration

Repeating a set of instructions using loops.

For Loop

A loop that runs a known number of times (`for i in …`).

While Loop

A loop that runs as long as its condition remains true.

Infinite Loop

A loop whose terminating condition is never met.

MOD Operator

`a mod b` returns the remainder when a is divided by b.

PEMDAS

Order of operations in expressions (Parentheses, Exponents, …).