Principles of Programming - Fundamentals, Languages, and Algorithms (Flashcards)

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from the lecture notes on programming fundamentals, languages, and algorithms.

Variables

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

Data type

Classification of data values that determines the kind of values a variable can hold and the operations allowed.

Control structures

Programming constructs that direct the flow of execution, such as if/else and loops.

Functions

Reusable blocks of code that perform tasks and can be called from other parts of a program.

Data structures

Organized ways to store and manage data (e.g., arrays, lists, trees).

Algorithmic thinking

The ability to think in steps to solve problems, including breaking problems down (decomposition) and simplifying complexity (abstraction).

Decomposition

Breaking a problem into smaller, more manageable parts.

Abstraction

Hiding complex details to focus on essential features and interfaces.

Readability

The ease with which code can be read and understood by humans.

Modules

Reusable units of code organized into separate components.

Programming languages

Formal languages consisting of instructions used to communicate with and control a computer.

Syntax

The set of rules that define the correct structure of statements and expressions in a language.

Semantics

The meaning of statements and expressions—what actions the computer will perform.

Implementation

How a language is translated into executable form, typically into machine code.

High-level language

A language designed to be easy to read and write, abstracted from hardware.

Low-level language

A language closer to hardware, harder to read, closer to machine code (e.g., assembly).

Assembly language

A low-level language using mnemonic instructions that map to machine code.

Machine language

Binary instructions directly understood by a computer's processor.

FORTRAN

An early programming language used for numerical and scientific computations.

C++

A high-level, object-oriented language that extends C with additional features.

C#

A high-level, object-oriented language developed by Microsoft.

Java

A high-level, object-oriented language widely used for applications.

Python

A high-level, interpreted language known for readability and simplicity.

JavaScript

A high-level scripting language primarily used for web development.

Ruby

A high-level, easy-to-read language focused on productivity and simplicity.

PHP

A server-side scripting language used for web development.

Delphi

An object-oriented language derived from Pascal, used for Windows applications.

Perl

A high-level language known for text processing and scripting.

Debugging

The process of finding and fixing errors in a program.

Locality of reference

The tendency of a program to access the same memory areas repeatedly, enabling optimization with loops and subroutines.

Algorithm

A precise, step-by-step procedure to solve a problem or perform a computation.

Program

A set of instructions that tells a computer how to perform a task.