CS110: Introduction to Computing

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards focused on key concepts from the CS110 Introduction to Computing lecture.

Imperative Programming

A programming paradigm that uses statements to change a program's state.

Data Types

A classification that specifies which type of value a variable can hold.

Expressions

Combinations of variables, literals, and operators that are evaluated to produce a value.

Statements

Syntactic units in programming that express actions to be carried out.

Strings

Sequences of characters represented in programming.

Integers

Whole numbers without a decimal point.

Floats

Numbers that have a decimal point.

Booleans

Data type that has two values: True and False.

Operator Precedence

The order in which operations are performed in expressions.

str

A data type for sequences of characters with string operations.

int

A data type for integers with arithmetic operations.

float

A data type for floating-point numbers with arithmetic operations.

bool

A data type for boolean values (True/False) with logical operations.

complex

A data type for complex numbers with complex-number operations.

Literal

A fixed value in code that directly represents a data type.

Identifier

A name used to identify a variable, function, or class.

Variable

A storage location identified by a name that holds data.

Constant

A variable whose value cannot change during program execution.

Operator

A symbol that tells the compiler or interpreter to perform a specific mathematical or logical operation.

Function

A reusable piece of code that performs a specific task.

Built-in Functions

Functions that are provided by a programming language as part of its standard library.

void function

A function that does not return a value.

non-void function

A function that returns a value after execution.

Assignment Statement

A statement that assigns a value to a variable.

Import Statement

A statement used to include external modules or libraries.

Concatenation

The operation of joining two strings together.

Replication

The operation of repeating a string a specified number of times.

Arithmetic Operations

Operations that include addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Logical Operations

Operations that include AND, OR, and NOT.

Comparison Operators

Operators that compare two values and return a boolean result.

Unary Operator

An operator that operates on a single operand.

Binary Operator

An operator that operates on two operands.

Exponentiation

The operation of raising one number to the power of another.

Remainder

The operation that returns the remainder of a division.

Floored Division

The operation that divides two numbers and rounds down the result.

Data Type Operations

Operations defined for specific data types like arithmetic and logical operations.

Namespace

A container that holds a set of identifiers.

Scope

The region of a program where a variable is accessible.

Command-line input

Input provided to a program via the command line.

Standard output

The destination where data is sent for display.

Syntax Error

An error in the code that violates the rules of the programming language.

Runtime Error

An error that occurs during the execution of a program.

Debugging

The process of identifying and fixing errors in code.

String Literal

A sequence of characters enclosed in double quotes.

Integer Literal

A sequence of digits representing an integer.

Floating-point Literal

A sequence of digits with a decimal point representing a float.

Boolean Literal

A value that is either True or False.

Operator Overloading

The ability to define operators for user-defined types.

Functional Programming

A programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions.

Syntax

The set of rules that defines the structure of statements in a programming language.

Semantics

The meaning of statements in a programming language.

Top-down Approach

A problem-solving approach that starts with the highest level of abstraction.

Bottom-up Approach

A problem-solving approach that starts with the smallest components.

Modular Programming

A programming style that emphasizes separating functionality into independent modules.

Error Handling

The process of responding to and recovering from error conditions.

Recursion

A function that calls itself in order to solve a problem.

Iteration

The repetition of a process or set of instructions.

Conditional Statement

A statement that executes different code based on a boolean condition.

Loop

A control structure that repeats a block of code.

Flow Control

The order in which individual statements, instructions, or function calls are executed.

Standard Libraries

Predefined libraries that provide commonly used functionality.

User-defined Libraries

Libraries created by users containing custom functions.

Return Statement

A statement that ends a function and sends a value back to the caller.

Scope Resolution

The process of determining which variable or function is being referred to in a given context.

Comment

Text in the code that is not executed and provides information to programmers.

Evaluation

The process of determining the value of an expression.

String Operations

Operations that can be performed on strings such as concatenation and slicing.

Arithmetic Mean

The sum of a collection of values divided by the number of values.

Environmental Variables

Variables that affect the way running processes will behave on a computer.

Memory Management

The process of controlling and coordinating computer memory.

Compiled Language

A programming language that is translated into machine code which the computer can execute directly.

Interpreted Language

A programming language that is executed line by line by an interpreter.

Cross-platform Compatibility

The ability for software to run on different operating systems.

Data Structures

Organized formats for data storage, access, and modification.

Algorithm

A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem.

Pseudocode

A simplified, half-code representation of an algorithm.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

The process of planning, creating, testing, and deploying software.

Version Control

The management of changes to documents, computer programs, and other collections of information.

Algorithm Complexity

A measure of the amount of time and/or space required by an algorithm.

Cybersecurity

The practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks.

Data Privacy

The protection of personal data from unauthorized access.

User Interface (UI)

The means by which a user interacts with a computer or software.

Application Programming Interface (API)

A set of functions and procedures for building software and applications.

Data Visualization

The graphical representation of information and data.

Software Testing

The process of evaluating and verifying that a software product or application meets the requirements.

Deployment

The process of making a software application available for use.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

A method to frequently deliver apps to customers by introducing automation into the stages of app development.

User Experience (UX)

The overall experience a user has when interacting with a product.

Cloud Computing

The on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage and computing power.

Big Data

Data that is so large, fast, or complex that it's difficult to process using traditional methods.

Machine Learning

A type of artificial intelligence that allows software applications to become more accurate at predicting outcomes.

Distributed Systems

A model in which components located on networked computers communicate and coordinate their actions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.