Essentials of Computer Programming I Review

This set of flashcards covers the key vocabulary terms and definitions from the Computer Programming lecture notes.

Computer Programming

The process of designing and writing instructions that a computer can execute to perform specific tasks.

Code

The instructions written in a programming language that a computer can understand and execute.

Decomposition

The process of breaking complex problems down into smaller manageable steps.

Algorithm

Step-by-step procedures for solving problems, forming the backbone of any computer program.

Programming Language

A set of rules and syntax for writing code that can be executed by a computer.

Python

A high-level, interpreted programming language known for its simplicity and versatility.

Variable

A storage location identified by a name that can contain data that may change during program execution.

Data Type

A classification that specifies which type of value a variable can hold, such as integer, float, or string.

Mutable Data Type

A data type that can be modified after its creation, e.g., lists, dictionaries, and sets.

Immutable Data Type

A data type that cannot be modified after its creation, e.g., integers, floats, strings, and tuples.

Encapsulation

The bundling of data (attributes) and methods (functions) that operate on the data into a single unit, or class.

Inheritance

The ability of a new class to acquire properties and methods from an existing class.

Polymorphism

The ability for different classes to be treated as instances of the same class through a common interface.

Abstraction

The concept of hiding the complex reality while exposing only the necessary parts.

Scripting Language

A programming language that is interpreted rather than compiled, commonly used for automating tasks.

Logical Operator

Operators that combine conditional statements and return a Boolean result.

Relational Operator

Operators that compare two values and return a Boolean result.

Arithmetic Operator

Operators used to perform mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, and multiplication.

Control Structure

A programming construct that dictates the order in which instructions are executed, typically including conditionals and loops.

Function

A reusable block of code designed to perform a specific task.

List

An ordered, mutable collection of elements that can hold items of different data types.

Tuple

An ordered, immutable collection of elements that can hold items of different data types.

Dictionary

A collection of key-value pairs, allowing for efficient data retrieval based on unique keys.

Set

An unordered collection of unique items that does not support indexing.

Namespace

A container that holds a set of identifiers and allows for the organization of code to avoid naming conflicts.

Package

A way to organize related classes and functions in Python, providing modularity and code organization.

Abstract Class

A class that cannot be instantiated and is meant to be subclassed with abstract methods.