Programming Basics and Computer Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on programming basics, input/output, C++ syntax, IDEs, and computer architecture.

Computer program

A sequence of instructions that a computer executes one at a time to perform a task.

Input

Data a program reads from sources such as keyboard, files, or networks.

Process

The computations or transformations performed on input data by a program.

Output

Data produced by a program and sent to a destination like a screen or file.

Variable

A named storage location whose value can change during program execution.

Assignment

The operation of giving a variable a value (e.g., x = 5).

Arithmetic expression

A combination of values and operators that evaluates to a number.

Integer

A data type representing whole numbers.

String

A data type representing text characters.

Main function

The entry point of a C++ program, typically defined as int main() { … }.

Curly braces

The { } characters that enclose blocks of code or function bodies.

Semicolon

The symbol ; that ends a statement in C++ and many other languages.

cout

The C++ output stream used to print data to the screen.

cin

The C++ input stream used to read data from the keyboard.

endl

Endline manipulator that inserts a newline in output.

String literal

Text placed in double quotes used in output (e.g., "Hello").

Insertion operator

The << operator in C++ used with cout to send data to the output stream.

Newline

A line break; can be produced by endl or the escape sequence \n.

Escape sequence

A backslash followed by a character (e.g., \n) representing a special character.

Prompt

A message shown to request input from the user.

Console input with prompts

Reading input while printing prompts before each cin.

Console input without prompts

Reading input without prompts, often providing all values at once.

Comment

Text in code intended for humans and ignored by the compiler.

Single-line comment

A comment starting with // and continuing to the end of the line.

Block comment

A comment starting with /* and ending with */, possibly spanning multiple lines.

Whitespace

Spaces, tabs, and newlines used to format code; the compiler largely ignores most of it.

Algorithm

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

Turtle graphics

A visual method where a robotic or simulated turtle follows commands to draw shapes.

Compiler

A program that translates a high-level language into machine code and reports errors or warnings.

Machine instruction

Binary 0s and 1s that a processor executes.

Assembly language

A human-readable representation of machine instructions, translated by an assembler.

High-level language

A programming language (e.g., C, C++, Java) that requires a compiler to translate to machine code.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Software that combines a code editor, compiler, debugger, and other tools.

Syntax highlighting

Color-coding of code elements in an IDE to aid readability and error detection.

Automatic delimiter completion

An IDE feature that automatically inserts closing quotes, brackets, etc.

Automatic indentation

An IDE feature that automatically indents lines to improve readability.

Command-line interface (CLI)

A text-based interface for running programs and interacting with files.

Console

A text-based interface for program input and output.

Command-line argument

A value provided after the program name when running from a CLI.

Moore's Law

The observation that transistors on a chip double roughly every 18–24 months, increasing performance.

Transistor

A basic switch used to build integrated circuits.

Integrated circuit (IC)

A microchip containing many transistors.

CPU / Processor

The central component that executes instructions in a computer.

RAM

Random Access Memory; volatile storage for data/instructions the CPU uses quickly.

SSD

Solid-State Drive; non-volatile storage using flash memory for data.

BIOS

Basic Input/Output System; firmware that initializes hardware and starts the OS.

Operating System (OS)

Software that manages hardware and provides services for programs.

Bit

The smallest unit of data, a binary digit, equal to 0 or 1.

Memory

Storage for data used by the processor, including RAM and cache.

Cache

A small, fast memory near the CPU that stores frequently used data.

Preprocessor directive

Commands like #include that run before compilation to prepare code.

Namespace std

The standard library namespace in C++; using std allows omitting std::.

Return statement

The statement return 0; which ends a function and signals successful completion.

Program execution (sequential)

Executing statements in order, typically one after another within a function.

Byte

8 bits; a basic unit of storage.

Iconic terms: header, include

include is a preprocessor directive to include a header file.

Data types

Categories like int, float, char, string that define what kind of data a variable holds.

Input/output (I/O)

The exchange of data between a program and its environment.

Text editor

Software used to write and edit program source code.

Executable

A binary file produced after compilation that the OS can run.

Compiler vs assembler vs interpreter

Different tools for translating or executing code: compilers translate high-level languages, assemblers translate assembly to machine code, and interpreters execute high-level code directly.

Algorithmic thinking

Using a systematic method to solve problems through step-by-step procedures.

Precision in output

Exact formatting and spacing of program output, including whitespace, to match expected results.