Computer Science Principles Vocabulary List

What is an algorithm?

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

What is a data structure?

A way of organizing and storing data so that it can be accessed and modified efficiently.

What is a variable in programming?

A named storage location in a program that holds a value which can be changed during program execution.

What is a function?

A self-contained block of code that encapsulates a specific task or related group of tasks.

What is a loop in programming?

A programming construct that repeats a block of code as long as a specified condition is true.

What is a Boolean data type?

A data type that has two possible values: true or false, often used in conditional statements.

What is debugging?

The process of finding and fixing errors or bugs in a program's code.

What is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)?

A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to programmers for software development.

What is source code?

The human-readable instructions that a programmer writes to create a program or software.

What is a compiler?

A program that translates source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code.

What is an API?

A set of rules and protocols for building and interacting with software applications.

What is recursion?

The process where a function calls itself directly or indirectly to solve a problem.

What is exponential growth?

A growth pattern in which the value of a variable increases at a rate proportional to its current value.

What is a network?

A collection of computers and devices interconnected to share resources and data.

What is cloud computing?

The delivery of computing services over the internet, allowing for storage and access to data remotely.

What is an operating system?

Software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs.

What is encryption?

The process of converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access.

What is data mining?

The process of discovering patterns and knowledge from large amounts of data.

What is machine learning?

A branch of artificial intelligence that involves the development of algorithms that allow computers to learn from and make predictions based on data.

What is artificial intelligence (AI)?

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