U7

Parameter

a variable in a function definition. Used as a placeholder for values that will be passed through the function.

Argument

the value passed to the parameter

Return

used to return the flow of control to the point where the procedure (also known as a function) was called and to return the value of expression.

Procedural abstraction

a process and allows a procedure to be used only knowing what it does, not how it does it. Procedural abstraction allows a solution to a large problem to be based on the solution of smaller subproblems. This is accomplished by creating procedures to solve each of the subproblems.

Library

a group of functions (procedures) that may be used in creating new programs

API

Application Program Interface - specifications for how functions in a library behave and can be used.

Algorithm

a finite set of instructions that accomplish a task.

Unreasonable Time

Algorithms with exponential or factorial efficiencies are examples of algorithms that run in an unreasonable amount of time.

heuristic

provides a "good enough" solution to a problem when an actual solution is impractical or impossible

Parallel Computing

a model in which programs are broken into small pieces, some of which are run simultaneously