APCSP Vocabulary Part 2

Vocabulary flashcards covering APCSP concepts from the lecture notes (Pages 1–10).

innovating

the process of imagining something that does not yet exist, with potential value, and making it real through design, implementation, and production.

iteration

repeatedly applying a process with the goal of coming closer to a solution.

iterative development process

the cycle in which computer programs are designed, developed, and tested in repeated cycles.

debug

to identify and remove errors from a computer program.

string

a linear sequence of characters, words, or other data.

dichotomous

something that can only be one thing or another (yes or no).

binary code

code represented with the two symbols 1 and 0.

bits

the foundation for digital computing (1s and 0s); short for binary digits.

digital

how information is stored, accessed, transformed and used by computers.

state space

the space of potential possibilities.

exponential growth

the rate of growth that rapidly increases in proportion to the growing total number or size.

fixed-point numbers

numbers where the decimal point is always in the same place.

floating-point numbers

numbers where the decimal point can float because there is no fixed number of digits before and after the decimal point; also called real numbers.

real numbers

numbers approximated by floating-point representations that do not necessarily have infinite precision.

scientific notation

the mathematical representation of a decimal number in floating-point form (examples: 4 x 10^3 for 4,000; 2.345 x 10^6 for 2,345,000).

algorithm

a finite set of instructions that accomplish a specific task.

sequencing

executes statements one at a time, in order.

selection

uses if…then to tell a computer how to select a step.

imperative statement

a command statement with a verb phrase that indicates an operation to perform.

descriptive qualifier

an adverb or adjective that further qualifiers or limits the meaning of a word.

natural language

a complex but structured language, spoken or written, that evolved naturally in humans. (ex. english, chinese hindi)

binary

machine code that is a direct, low-level translation from the high-level source code; a pattern of 0s and 1s.

abstraction

the process of removing or suppressing details to create a manageable level of complexity.

artificial language

a limited-size language usually developed by a small group for specific purposes; simpler and more structured.

ambiguity

uncertainty or having more than one possible interpretation.

visual programming language

a programming language that lets users drag and drop icons into organized blocks of code instead of typing.

high-level language

a programming language easier for humans to read, write, and parse; unambiguous and typically easier for machines to parse.

low-level language

a programming language with little or no abstraction that communicates closely to hardware; harder for humans to read.

compilation

the process of translating source code into machine code.

assembly language

a low-level programming language using mnemonic instructions; close to hardware.

machine language

directly related to the hardware circuitry of the processor; binary; unambiguous but hard for humans to read.

input

a user-initiated instruction that is compiled into low-level code (binary).

RAM

memory storage space used by a computer for quick read/write access.

CPU (central processing unit)

the central processing unit; the processor that calculates information.

output

the physical display of the calculated information.

flowchart

a simple diagram with symbols showing the flow of a process.

flow pattern

a pattern that can emerge when data is transformed using sequencing, selection, and iteration.

sequential execution

program instructions executed one at a time, in order.

pseudocode

an informal, non-syntax-specific way of writing algorithmic instructions; “false” code.

loop

the repetition of some code.

indefinite loop

a loop whose number of iterations is unknown, often waiting for an event.

definite loop

a loop that repeats a predetermined number of times.

procedure

a named collection of steps in an algorithm that can be reused; may have parameters and return values.

parameter

a special type of variable used within a procedure.

modularity

the subdivision of a computer program into separate subprograms.

Internet

a computer network consisting of interconnected networks using standardized, open protocols.

World Wide Web

a network of online content formatted in HTML and accessed via HTTP.

Tim Berners-Lee

the creator of the fundamental tools and technologies that make up the World Wide Web.

hyperlinks

clickable bits of text or images in HTML that link to other documents or locations.

web browser

a client application used to request and view web pages.

web server

a program on a remote computer that serves up web pages.

HTML

Hypertext Markup Language; formatting instructions for displaying web content.

URI

Uniform Resource Identifier; a unique address for resources on the web (also called URL).

HTTP

Hypertext Transfer Protocol; standards for requesting and receiving resources on the Web.

HTTPS

HTTP secured with SSL/TLS to encrypt data in transit.

cybersecurity

measures to protect computer systems from unauthorized access or attack.

confidentiality

restricting information access to authorized users.

integrity

ensuring information is accurate and unaltered.

availability

reliability of access to information.

firewall

a security system that blocks unauthorized access while allowing legitimate communication.

DDoS attack

Distributed Denial of Service; overwhelming a service with traffic to make it unavailable.

viruses

self-replicating code that can corrupt or damage a system.

social engineering

psychological manipulation of people into divulging confidential information or actions.

malware

software intended to damage or disable computers or systems.

phishing

tricking people into revealing confidential information by posing as legitimate entities.

encryption

transformation of data into a code to prevent unauthorized access.

decryption

decoding encrypted data.

symmetric key system

an encryption method where both parties share a single secret key.

asymmetric key system

an encryption method using different keys to encrypt and decrypt.

public-key encryption

an asymmetric method using a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.

high-level programming

uses common English words, numbers and symbols. Guaranteed to be unambiguous. Easy for humans to read, write, and parse. Easy for machines to parse. (ex. Java, C++, Python, BASIC, Scratch)

low-level programming (assembly)

A direct translation of machine language using an abbreviated syntax. Guaranteed to be unambiguous. Less natural for humans, but still readable to the trained eye.

low-level programming (machine)

Directly related to the hardware circuitry of the processor. Guaranteed to be unambiguous. Difficult for humans to read and write.

certificate authorities

CA's issue digital certificates that validate ownership of

encrypted keys used in secured communications and are based on a trust

model.

trust model

validation of one's identity necessary for an event or transaction

to occur.

open platforms

software based on open standards where there is no single

ownership and is freely available through open license.

closed platform

proprietary software where the provider has control over the

application and content and can restrict access

open standard

a standard where documentation and specifications are open

to the public.

closed standard

a standard where documentation and specifications are not

available to the public.

open source

publicly available information that is free to use, distribute,

modify, and study.

closed source

privately owned information that is proprietary

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

The standard security technology for establishing

an encrypted link between a web server and a browser, typically indicated

with padlock icon in the address bar.Internet protocol: the protocol by which

data is sent from one computer to another on the Internet.

IPv6

Internet Protocol, Version 6 - 128-bit Internet address consisting of eight

4-character hexadecimal numbers to handle routing of many more devices.

IPv4

Internet Protocol, Version 4 - A 32-bit Internet address consisting of four

numbers each between 0 through 255, separated by periods (represents 8

bits).

domain

a group of devices connected on a network using the same protocol

to access and administer web pages.It is often associated with a specific IP address and used to identify a website or service on the Internet.

hierarchy

an arrangement of elements in a ranking of superiority. The

Internet and systems are built from the top (root) down.

packet switching

digital data is sent by breaking the data into blocks of bits

called packets, which contain both the data being transmitted and control

information for routing the data.

data stream

Information is passed through the Internet as a data stream.

Data streams contain chunks of data, which are encapsulated in packets.

SMTP

Email communication standard developed and overseen by

the Internet Engineering Task Force (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

TCP/IP

standard for packets and routing (Transmission Control

Protocol/Internet Protocol)

SMS

Short Message Services. Text messaging allows the user to send up to

160 characters to another device. If the message is longer it may truncate,

concatenate and/or split up into several individual messages

interface

a user-friendly picture-oriented way to interact with technology,

contributing to the widespread use of the Internet

Application Program Interfaces (APIs)/Libraries

a set of routines, protocols,

and tools for building software applications which simplify complex

programming tasks.

network

connection of devices and networks to communicate using

addresses and protocols.

client-server model

the client(s) are the end-user(s) and communicates with

the server (a centralized computer) that services the clients.

routing

the process of moving information (or packets) over a network via a

device called a router.

latency

the time elapsed between the transmission and the receipt of a

request in a system.

routing redundancy

having multiple options between two points increases the

reliability of the Internet and helps it scale to more devices and more people.

cloud computing

storing, accessing and processing data using remote

servers over a network rather than a local server or computer.

search tools

directories and search engines on the Internet that are essential

for finding information efficiently on the Web.