Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers and Programming

Flashcards for reviewing key concepts in Chapter 1: Introduction to Computers and Programming.

Computer

A programmable machine designed to follow instructions.

Program

Instructions in computer memory to make it do something.

Programmer

A person who writes instructions (programs) to make a computer perform a task.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The brain of the computer, comprised of the Control Unit and Arithmetic & Logic Unit.

Control Unit

Retrieves and decodes program instructions and coordinates activities.

Arithmetic & Logic Unit

Hardware optimized for high-speed numeric calculation and true/false decisions.

Main Memory

Volatile memory that is erased when the program terminates or the computer is turned off; also called Random Access Memory (RAM).

Bit

Smallest piece of memory with values 0 (off, false) or 1 (on, true).

Byte

8 consecutive bits; bytes have addresses.

Address

A unique number that identifies each byte in memory.

Secondary Storage

Non-volatile memory that retains data when the program is not running or the computer is turned off.

Input Devices

Devices that send information to the computer from outside.

System Software

Programs that manage the computer hardware and the programs that run on them (e.g., operating systems).

Application Software

Programs that provide services to the user (e.g., word processing, games).

Program

A set of instructions that the computer follows to perform a task.

Algorithm

A set of well-defined steps.

Machine Language

Binary numbers that the computer directly executes.

High-Level Language

Languages closer to human language, used by programmers.

Low-Level Language

Used for direct communication with computer hardware, often written in binary machine code.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Combines all the tools needed to write, compile, and debug a program into a single software application.

Key Words

Also known as reserved words; have a special meaning in C++ and cannot be used for any other purpose.

Programmer-Defined Identifiers

Names made up by the programmer to represent variables, functions, etc.

Operators

Symbols used to perform operations on data (e.g., arithmetic, assignment).

Punctuation

Characters that mark the end of a statement or separate items in a list.

Syntax

The rules of grammar that must be followed when writing a program.

Variable

A named storage location in the computer’s memory for holding a piece of data.

Variable Declaration

A variable definition.

Procedural Programming

Focus is on the process; procedures/functions are written to process data.

Object-Oriented Programming

Focus is on objects, which contain data and the means to manipulate the data.