Computational Thinking and Algorithms

Vocabulary flashcards covering core computational thinking principles, algorithm design, control structures, data types, arrays, Boolean logic gates, and digital data concepts from the lecture notes.

Computational thinking

A problem-solving approach that involves breaking down a problem, identifying patterns, focusing on important information, and creating a step-by-step solution.

Decomposition

Breaking a large or complex problem into smaller or easier parts.

Pattern Recognition

Identifying similarities or repeated patterns within problems.

Abstraction

Focusing only on important information and ignoring unnecessary details.

Algorithmic thinking

Developing a clear sequence of instructions to solve a problem.

Algorithm

A set of clear, ordered instructions used to solve a problem in order to complete a task.

Sequence

When instructions are performed one after another in the correct order.

Pseudocode

An informal way of writing an algorithm using structured instructions that look similar to programming code, without being an actual programming language or requiring a compiler/interpreter.

Flowcharts

Diagrams that represent the steps of an algorithm using symbols and arrows.

Input

Information put into a system.

Process

The actions performed on data.

Output

Information produced by the system.

Iteration

Repeating a section of an algorithm or program.

Loop

A structure used to repeat instructions when an instruction needs to happen more than once.

For loop

A loop that runs a block of code a set, known number of times.

While loop

A loop that repeats a block of code as long as a specified condition remains true, testing the condition before running the code inside the loop.

Do while loop

A loop similar to a while loop, but it evaluates the condition at the end of the block.

For each loop

A loop that iterates directly through items in a collection or array without needing an explicit counter variable.

Count-controlled loop

A loop that repeats instructions a specific number of times using a counter variable.

Data type

Tells a computer what kind of data is being stored.

Integer

A whole number that does not contain decimal parts.

Real

A number that contains decimal parts, useful for measurements or calculations.

String

A data type that stores one or more characters together as text, such as names, sentences, addresses, passwords, or messages.

Character

A data type that stores a single letter, number, or symbol, using a fixed amount of memory.

Boolean

A data type that has only two possible values: TRUE or FALSE.

Array

A data structure used to store multiple items of data under one identifier, allowing many related values to be stored together.

Index

A numerical identifier for the position of an item in an array, starting at 0 in many programming languages.

Logic gates

Components used by computers to process binary values by receiving one or more inputs and producing an output.

AND Gate

A logic gate with two inputs and one output, where the output is 1 only when BOTH inputs are 1.

OR Gate

A logic gate with two inputs and one output, where the output is 1 when at least one input is 1.

NOT Gate

A logic gate with one input and one output that reverses the input ($\text{NOT } 0 = 1$, $\text{NOT } 1 = 0$).

Boolean expression

An expression that describes a logical operation whose evaluation determines the output.

Digitizing

Converting analogue data into a series of numerical values that can be represented digitally.

Analogue sound

A continuous sound wave that shows changes in the sound over time.