APCSP 2023 Exam Terms

All the vocab from all the sections on ProjectStem

Creativity

One of the seven big ideas - the use of the imagination or original ideas.

Abstraction

One of the seven big ideas - technique in computing that hides detail, makes more complicated ideas simpler, and collects a bunch of ideas into a single idea

Data and information

One of the seven big ideas - emphasizes how computers are used to analyze data and create new knowledge.

Algorithms

One of the seven big ideas - the process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.

The Internet

One of the seven big ideas - a global computer network providing a variety of information and communication facilities, consisting of interconnected networks using standardized communication protocols.

Global Impact

One of the seven big ideas - focuses on how computing and technology has impacted our world positively and negatively

Computer Science

The study of the ideas, ways of thinking, languages, software, and hardware needed to solve problems with computers.

Imagination Age

A theoretical period beyond the information age where creativity and imagination will become the primary creators of economic value.

Information Age

A shift in human history from traditional industry to an economy based on information computerization using analysis and thinking - AKA: Digital Age

Program

A systematic plan or sequence of instructions for a computer to solve a problem.

Programming

The action or process of writing computer programs.

RAM

Random Access Memory consists of tiny electrical circuits that dynamically store frequently used program instruction to increase speed of the system.

Compilation

The process of source code being translated into machine code.

Compiler

A program that translates high level, human-readable languages into a corresponding string of 1s and 0s for computer processing.

Bit

Short for binary digit - a single binary value, either 0 or 1.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The processor or brains of the computer where calculations take place.

Source Code

Programs written in high-level languages.

Machine code

Programs written in machine-level instructions that are uniquely read by computer processors using patterns of 1s and 0s.

Hardware

Physical components of a computer built using multiple levels of abstraction, such as transistors, logic gate chips, memory, motherboard, special purpose cards, and storage devices.

Primary storage

Main storage or memory that stores data for quick access by the computer's processor (RAM)

Secondary Storage

External/Auxiliary memory such as a USB flash drive, hard drive, etc.

Binary

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

Computational Thinking

Understanding the logic and processes computers use to solve problems and run programs.

Innovating

The process of imagining something that does not yet exist, but that has a potential value, and making it real through the application of design, implementation, and production

Iteration

Repeatedly applying a process with the goal of coming closer and closer to a solution

Iterative Development Process

The process by which computer programs are designed, developed and tested in repeated cycles.

Debug

To identify and remove errors from a computer program

Algorithm

A process or set of instructions to be followed in calculations or other problem solving operations.

Sequencing

Executes statements one at a time - in order, one after another.

Iteration

Repetition - one complete step of a loop, repeated until a certain condition is met.

Selection

Uses "if...then" to tell a computer how to select a step or to tell the sequence that it should be executed.

Imperative statement

A command statement with a verb phrase that indicates an operation to perform (example: move forward)

Descriptive qualifier

A specific adverb or adjective that further qualifies or limits the meaning of a word (example: left shoe)

Natural Language

A complex, but structured language, both written and spoken, that has evolved naturally in humans through use, repetition, and adaptation.

Artificial language

A limited size language, usually developed by a small group for specific purposes. Usually much simpler and structured.

Ambiguity

Uncertainty or being open to more than one interpretation

Visual programming language

A programming language that lets users drag and drop icons into organized blocks of code to create programs rather than typing text.

High-level language

A programming language that is easier for humans to read, write, and parse. Guaranteed to be unambiguous

Low-level language

a programming language that has little or no abstraction and communicates closely to the hardware using machine language. Less natural for humans.

Sprite

. An object in Scratch that performs functions through scripting.

Stage

The background of a project in Scratch which can have scripts, backdrops, sound, etc.

Costume

The appearance of a sprite

Motion blocks

Medium-blue colored blocks used to control a sprite's movement in Scratch.

Reporter blocks

A block in Scratch with round edges that contains a value (numbers, sentences, etc.) and can be used inside other blocks.

Looks blocks

Purple-colored blocks of code in Scratch that are used to control a sprite's appearance.

Sensing blocks

Light-blue colored Boolean blocks that are used to detect different factors of a project such as touching.

Operator blocks

Light-green colored blocks of code used to handle strings and math equations in Scratch

Events

Blocks of code that trigger corresponding behavior (example: Green Flag - starts program)

Broadcast

When blocks of code are executed at a given time by communicating (or broadcasting) a message.

Input

User interaction with a program via clicking, mouse movement, or keyboard entry

Storage

What the computer "stores" or needs to remember to execute a program.

State

A description of what the computer is doing or the values of variables at any given moment

Attributes

A descriptor used to describe the state, such as the x- or y-position.

Process

The program code and current activity that is being executed in a computer program

Position

The x and y coordinates on the stage in Scratch

Placeholder

A variable for a particular value or attribute

Variable

A placeholder to store a particular value or attribute such as x and y in an algebraic equation or calculation.

Integer

A whole number; a number that is not a fraction that is used in programs

Character

A single letter, digit, or symbol that can be a type of variable

String

A series of characters at any length. Can be a type of variable

Boolean values

A variable to represent true or false

Array

Lists of other variables

Floating point number

A number that may have digits after the decimal place. Can be a type of variable

Declaring variables

Creating variables in a programming language

Algorithm

a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problems solving operations

Sequencing

logic structure where instructions are executed in order, one after another, one at a time. Often called linear.

Flowchart

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

Flow pattern

pattern that can emerge when data is transformed using computational logic structures (sequencing, selection, iteration).

Sequential execution

program instructions that are executed one at a time, in order

Parameter

a variable that defines a procedure or sets the conditions of an operation

Procedure

a named collection of steps in an algorithm that can be reused anytime it is needed without restating the detailed procedures (abstraction)

Comments

an annotation in the code of a computer program

Remix

to modify and share a version of an uploaded existing project

selection

algorithmic structure that uses "if...then" to tell computer how to select a step or to tell the sequence that should be executed

If statement

type of selection statement that only executes when a certain criteria is met; a set of instructions within an if block that is executed only if the condition in the if statement is met

If else statement

a more thorough version of an if statement that stipulates what is to happen when a certain criteria is not met; a set of instructions within an if block is executed if a specified condition is true and instructions within the else block are executed if the same condition is false.

operators

symbols that imply a comparison in conditional selection statements

Control flow

the direction the computer program moves from instruction to instruction over time. Can also be controlled by if statements and other binary conditions

Operator block

light-green colored blocks of code used to handle strings and math equations in Scratch

Branching

instruction in a computer program that can cause a computer to begin executing a different sequence of instructions

Conditionals

only executes if a certain designated condition is true

Boolean values

binary values (usually denoted true and false), intended to represent the truth values of logic and Boolean algebra.

Switching

turning on or off (binary)

nesting

where different logic structures sequence, selection and loops are combined or nested in one another

Iteration

repetition - one complete step of a loop, repeated until a certain condition is met

Loop

the repetition of some code

Indefinite loop

When it is unknown how many times a loop will iterate, usually we are waiting for an event to occur such as “repeat until…”

Definite loop

executes a predetermined set of times for a loop to be repeated

Repetition

one complete step of a loop, repeated until a certain condition is met

Unsolvable problem

a problem that cannot be solved using any algorithm

Halting problem

there cannot be a program that will determine which computer programs will halt (or exit) and which programs will go on forever (infinite loop)

Undecidable problem

where no algorithm can be made that always leads to a correct yes or no answer

Scalability

how well do algorithms perform at increasingly larger scales

Big-O Notation

a mathematical concept used by computer science tests not determine how well algorithms scale - performances classified into different categories

Sequential search

a linear search method of finding a targeted value within a list, looking one at a time until a match is found.

Binary search

a method of searching by dividing the search interval in half each time

Logarithmic behavior

doubling the size of a problem only requires one extra unit of work

Brute forcing

trial and error method used to decode encrypted data such as passwords

Moore’s Law

developed by Gordon Moore, who accurately predicted that the number of transistors that could fit on a chip would roughly double every one to two years. This law has helped innovators predict and develop technology efficiently for the past 50 years.

heuristics

a method for deriving an approximate solution - Rules of Thumb but not guaranteed an accurately correct answer