Programming

What is an algorithm?

A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or achieving a specific task.

Define a variable in programming.

A named storage location in memory that can hold a value.

What is a data type?

A classification that specifies the type of data a variable can hold, such as integer, string, or boolean.

What is a loop in programming?

A sequence of instructions that repeats until a certain condition is met.

What is a function?

A reusable block of code that performs a specific task.

What does 'syntax' refer to in programming?

The set of rules that defines the combinations of symbols that are considered to be correctly structured programs.

What is meant by 'debugging'?

The process of finding and resolving defects or problems within a program.

Explain what a conditional statement is.

A programming construct that executes a block of code based on whether a specific condition is true or false.

What is an array?

A collection of items stored at contiguous memory locations, allowing for indexed access.

Define 'algorithm efficiency'.

The measure of the amount of resources (like time and space) an algorithm uses relative to the input size.

What is 'pseudocode'?

A simplified, half-code version of programming that represents the structure of an algorithm without the complexity of syntax.

What is object-oriented programming (OOP)?

A programming paradigm based on the concept of 'objects', which can contain data and code.

What is a syntax error?

An error in the source code that violates the rules of the programming language.

What is a loop counter?

A variable used to control how many times a loop will execute.

What is an event-driven programming model?

A programming paradigm where the flow of the program is determined by events such as user inputs or messages from other programs.

Define 'string manipulation'.

The process of modifying, analyzing, or processing strings of text in programming.

What is recursion?

A programming technique where a function calls itself to solve a smaller instance of the same problem.

Explain what a 'module' is in programming.

A self-contained piece of code that encapsulates a specific functionality, making it reusable.

What is a binary tree?

A data structure where each node has at most two children, typically referred to as the left and right child.

Define 'API'.

Application Programming Interface; a set of rules that allows different software entities to communicate with each other.

What is an IDE?

Integrated Development Environment; software that provides comprehensive facilities to programmers for software development.

What does 'compile' mean in programming?

The process of translating source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code.

What is a framework in programming?

A platform for developing software applications that provides a foundation with predefined code and libraries.

What is the purpose of comments in code?

Comments are used to explain code, making it easier to understand for others or for the future reference of the original author.

Define 'data structure'.

A specific way of organizing and storing data in a computer to facilitate access and modification.

What is the difference between 'compile-time' and 'run-time' errors?

Compile-time errors occur during the compilation phase, while run-time errors occur while the program is executing.

What is iteration in programming?

The process of repeating a sequence of instructions until a specified condition is met.

Explain 'exception handling'.

The process of responding to the occurrence of exceptions – anomalous or exceptional conditions in a program.

What is a 'tuple'?

An ordered collection of elements which can hold a fixed number of elements, similar to an array but immutable.

What does 'inheritance' mean in OOP?

A mechanism where a new class can inherit properties and behavior (methods) from an existing class.

What is a stack data structure?

A collection of elements that follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle.

Define 'queue' in programming terms.

A collection of elements that follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle.

What is 'input validation'?

The process of ensuring that user inputs are correct and fall within the specified range of acceptable values.

What is a 'hash table'?

A data structure that implements an associative array, mapping keys to values for efficient data retrieval.

What is a 'syntax tree'?

A tree representation of the syntactic structure of source code, used in compilers and interpreters.

Define 'modularity' in programming.

The practice of breaking a program into smaller, manageable, and interchangeable parts or modules.

What is object?

An instance of a class that contains data and methods to manipulate that data.

What does GUI stand for?

Graphical User Interface; a way for users to interact with electronic devices using graphical icons and visual indicators.

What is a variable scope?

The region of the program where a variable can be accessed or referenced.

What does recursive function mean?

A function that calls itself either directly or indirectly to solve a problem.

Define 'neural networks' in the context of programming.

A set of algorithms designed to recognize patterns, modeled loosely after the human brain.