H446 Section 11 Programming Techniques

Algorithm

A step-by-step procedure or formula for solving a problem or completing a task, often used in programming and computer science. Has inputs, processing and outputs that can be implemented in various programming languages.

Pseudocode

A high-level description of an algorithm that uses the structural conventions of programming languages but is intended for human reading rather than machine execution.

Comments

Annotations in code that explain or clarify the code's purpose and have no effect on the running of the program.

Arithmetic operations

Mathematical calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division performed on numerical values in programming.

Round function

A built-in function that rounds a numerical value to the nearest integer or specified decimal place.

Modulus function

A mathematical operation that returns the remainder of a division between two numbers, commonly represented by the percent symbol (%) in programming.

Concatenate

To join two or more strings together to form a single string, often using the plus sign (+) in programming.

Variable

A symbolic name associated with a value that can change during program execution, used to store data.

Constant

A value that cannot be changed during the execution of a program, often used to store fixed data such as mathematical constants or configuration settings.

Name conventions

A set of rules and guidelines for naming variables and other identifiers in programming to enhance readability and maintainability. These conventions often include rules on capitalization, length, and character usage, for example variable names in Python are commonly written in lowercase and cannot start with a number or underscore.

Selection

A programming construct that allows the execution of certain code blocks based on specific conditions, often implemented using if-else statements or switch-case statements.

Sequence

A programming concept where instructions are executed in a linear order, one after another, from top to bottom, ensuring a clear flow of execution.

Relational operators

Operators that compare values, returning true or false based on conditions, such as equal to, greater than, or less than.

Switch/case

A control structure in programming that allows the execution of different code blocks based on the value of a variable or expression, providing an alternative to multiple if-else statements. Implemented as match-case in Python.

Iteration

A programming technique that repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a specified condition is true, often implemented using loops such as for and while.

Repeat … until

A loop that always executes at least once with the condition checked at the end of the loop.

While … end while

A control flow statement that repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a specified condition at the start evaluates to true, ending when the condition becomes false.

For … next

A loop that iterates over a sequence or range, executing a block of code for each value until the sequence is exhausted.

Nested loop

A loop that contains one or more loops within it, allowing for multiple levels of iteration over data structures.

Subroutine

A block of code designed to perform a specific task, which can be called and executed from different parts of a program, promoting code reuse and organization.

Function

A reusable named block of code that performs a specific task, which can be called with different arguments to produce varying results. Returns a value to the program that called it.

Procedure

A set of instructions that perform a specific task, similar to a function but may not return a value. Procedures are used to execute a sequence of statements in a program.

Passing parameters by value

A method of passing arguments to a subroutine where a copy of the actual parameter's value is made. This means that changes to the parameter within the subroutine do not affect the original variable.

Passing parameters by reference

A method of passing arguments to a subroutine where a reference to the actual parameter is passed instead of a copy. This allows changes made to the parameter within the subroutine to affect the original variable.

Global variable

A variable that is declared outside of any function or procedure and is accessible from any part of the program. Global variables retain their value across function calls.

Local variable

A variable that is declared within a subroutine or block and is only accessible within that scope. Local variables are created when the subroutine is called and destroyed when it exits.

Modular programming

A programming paradigm that emphasizes separating a program into distinct modules, each with its own functionality. This approach enhances code organization, reusability, and maintainability.

Recursion

A programming technique where a function calls itself to solve a problem. Recursion is often used to break down complex problems into simpler subproblems.

Base case

The condition under which a recursive function stops calling itself, preventing infinite recursion and allowing the function to return a value.

Benefits of recursion

Recursion can simplify code, making it easier to read and maintain. It also allows for elegant solutions to problems that can be divided into smaller, similar subproblems.

Drawbacks of recursion

Recursion can lead to increased memory usage and stack overflow errors if not managed properly. Additionally, it may result in slower performance compared to iterative solutions for some problems. Can be harder to trace through.

Call stack

A data structure that stores information about the active subroutines of a computer program, including the function calls and local variables. It plays a crucial role in managing function calls, especially in recursive programming.

Stack frame

A data structure within the call stack that holds information about the active subroutines or functions of a program, including local variables and return addresses, during the execution of a program.

Integrated Development Environment

A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development, including a code editor, debugger, and build automation tools.

IDE tools

Various features within an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that assist programmers in writing, testing, and debugging code more efficiently. These tools may include syntax highlighting, code completion, version control integration, debugging tools and automated testing features.

Purpose of testing

To ensure software quality and functionality by identifying and fixing defects before deployment.

Normal data

Data that falls within the expected range of values and is used to test the typical operation of a system.

Boundary data

Data that tests the limits of input ranges, often at the edges of valid input values.

Erroneous data

Data that is invalid or outside the expected range, used to test how a system handles incorrect input.

Dry run

A manual execution of a program or algorithm using sample data to verify its correctness and logic without actual execution on a computer.

Procedural program

A type of programming that follows a sequence of commands or instructions, organizing code into procedures or functions to perform tasks.

Object Oriented Program

A programming paradigm that uses "objects" to represent data and methods, allowing for encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism to enhance code reusability and organization.

Attribute

A characteristic or property of an object in object-oriented programming that defines its state or behavior.

State

A condition or situation that an object can be in, often represented by its attributes or properties in object-oriented programming.

Behaviour

The actions or methods that an object can perform in object-oriented programming, often defined by its functions and interacting with its attributes.

Class

A blueprint or template for creating objects in object-oriented programming, defining attributes and behaviors that the created objects will have.

Constructor

A special method in a class that is called when an object is instantiated. It initializes the object's attributes and sets up its initial state.

Instantiate

To create a specific instance of a class, allocating memory for the object's attributes and initializing them through the constructor.

Private

An access modifier in object-oriented programming that restricts access to class members, making them accessible only within the class itself.

Public

A keyword in object-oriented programming that allows class members to be accessible from any other class or object. Public members can be freely accessed and modified.

Information hiding

A programming principle that restricts direct access to an object's data and implementation details, promoting encapsulation and reducing dependencies between components.

Variable Reference Diagram

In OOP , a visual representation that shows the relationships between variables, objects, and their references in memory, helping to understand how data is accessed and manipulated.

Getter

is a method that retrieves the value of a private variable from a class, allowing controlled access to the data while maintaining encapsulation.

Setter

A method used in object-oriented programming to set or update the value of an object's attribute, often providing a way to enforce validation or other logic during the assignment.

Encapsulation

The principle of bundling data and methods that operate on that data within a single unit or class, restricting direct access to some of the object's components to protect the integrity of the data.

Inheritance

A fundamental concept in object-oriented programming where a new class derives properties and behaviors from an existing class, promoting code reuse and establishing a hierarchical relationship.

Superclass

A class that is extended or inherited by one or more subclasses, providing shared attributes and methods to its derived classes.

Subclass

A class that is derived from another class, known as the superclass, inheriting its attributes and methods while potentially adding new features or overriding existing ones.

Polymorphism

The ability in object-oriented programming for different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through a common interface, allowing methods to be used interchangeably.

Overriding

The process by which a subclass provides a specific implementation of a method that is already defined in its superclass, allowing the subclass to customize or change the behavior of that method.