APCSP Terms

Syntax Error

When the rules of the programming language are not followed.

Runtime Error

When the execution of a program stops immediately.

Logic Error

A mistake in the algorithm or program that causes it to behave incorrectly or unexpectedly.

Overflow Error

When a computer attempts to handle a number that is outside of the defined range of values or bits.

Debugging

The process of finding and fixing errors.

Process of Debugging

Describe the problem, hunt for bugs, try solutions, and document as you go.

Decimal Number System

A base 10 number with ten possible different digits.

Binary Number System

A base 2 number with two possible different digits: 0 or 1.

Binary Numbers

The type of number that can represent any numerical representation in digital data.

Bit

The single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1.

Byte

8 bits.

Binary to Decimal Conversion

This chart represents one byte. Changing a bit from 0 to 1 will determine the decimal number.

Decimal to Binary Conversion

Determine the largest power of 2 that is less than the desired decimal number. Subtract that number from the desired number and repeat the process until you're down to 0.

Digital Images

Collection of pixels where each pixel consists of binary numbers; 1 is black/on and 0 is white/off.

Maximum Value for Any Color

255 which is represented by 1111 1111 in binary.

Data Compression

The process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation.

Lossless Compression

A process for reducing the number of bits needed to represent something without losing any information.

Text Compression

Removing redundancy or patterns in text files to reduce its size; a form of lossless compression.

Lossy Compression

The process of reducing the number of bits needed to represent something in which some information is lost or thrown away.

Image Compression

A form of lossy compression because some number of the original pixels or frames are removed forever to make the image file smaller.

Data Extraction

The process of obtaining data from a database or software so it can transport it to another software (like spreadsheets) designed to support the online analytical processing.

Abstraction

Hiding of unnecessary information to make essential aspects of a system more easy to understand.

American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII)

Code that assigns a numerical value to characters.

Analog Data

Data with values that change continuously over time.

Sampling

A process for creating a digital representation of analog data by measuring the analog data at regular intervals called samples.

Layers of Abstraction in Color Images

Digital image layer, sampling layer, pixel layer, binary layer.

Digital Image Layer

Displays a digital approximation based on a sampling of an analog image.

Internet

A network of networks.

Computing Device

A machine that can run a program, such as computers, servers, or routers.

Computing System

A group of computing devices and programs working together for a common purpose.

Computing Network

A group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data.

Path

The series of connections between computing devices on a network starting with a sender and ending with a receiver.

Router

A type of computer that forwards data across a network.

Routing

The process of finding a path from sender to receiver.

Redundancy

The inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work even if the individual components fail, for example by having more than one path between any two connected devices in a network.

Fault Tolerant

Can continue to function even in the event of individual component failures.

Bandwidth

The maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, usually measured in bits per second; determines how quickly you can download and upload files from the internet.

Latency

Speed of back and forth communication or transmission.

Protocol

An agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of a system.

IP Address

The unique number assigned to each device on the internet; required to send messages in a network; normally 32 bits long.

DNS Spoofing

Hacker changes IP address in DNS, which can be dangerous when dealing with personal accounts.

Internet Protocol (IP)

A protocol for sending data across the internet that IP addresses to each connected device.

Datastream

Information passed through the internet packets.

Metadata

Data added to packets to help route them through the network and reassemble the original message.

Packet

A chunk of data sent over a network.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)

A protocol for sending packets that does error-checking to ensure all packets are received and properly ordered.

User Datagram Protocol (UDP)

A protocol for sending packets quickly with minimal error-checking and no resending of dropped packets.

Scalability

The ability for a system to handle a growing amount of work in an efficient manner; the capacity to increase services and products quickly with minimal interruption and cost.

Domain Name System (DNS)

The system responsible for translating domain names (like example.com) into IP addresses; required to send messages in a network; loads internet pages.

World Wide Web

A system of linked pages, programs, and files.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

A protocol for computers to request and share the pages that make up the World Wide Web on the internet; computer asks a server for a document.

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)

Constructs the appearance of the page; some images can load slowly if they're from different requests.

Cookies

Used to remember who you are; acts as an ID card because it gives you a number to identify you as.

SSL and TLS

Layers of security to protect the user from hacking; active when there is a lock icon next to the browser; stops you from going to non-secure websites.

Digital Divide

Differing access to computing devices and the internet based on socioeconomic, geographic, or demographic characteristics; raises ethical concerns of equality and is affected by actions of individuals or governments.

Cloud Computing

New ways for people to communicate, making collaboration more efficient; files stored on a computer server at a location different from where the owner of the files is located.

Crowdsourcing

Allows people to share information and ask the "crowd" (anyone who accesses the site) for feedback to help solve problems or for funding.

Intellectual Property

Anything a person creates, including any computational artifacts created with a computer.

Peer to Peer Networks

Illegal sharing of files.

Creative Commons

An alternative to copyright that allows people to declare how they want their artistic creations to be shared, remixed, used in noncommercial contexts, and how the policy should propagate with remixed versions.

Digital Data

Data that changes discreetly through a finite set of possible values, like pixels; easy to find, copy, and paste, so it is important to ensure you have written permission from the creator or owner to use.

Open-Source Software

Software that is freely shared, updated, and supported by anyone who wants to do so.

Open Access

Sharing of huge amounts of public data by organizations, providing the opportunity for anyone to search for information or to help solve problems.

Data Mining

A field of study that analyzes large datasets.

Machine Learning

A subset of data mining that uses algorithms to analyze data and predict behavior and is used in AI.

User Interface

The inputs and outputs that allow a user to interact with a piece of software.

Input

Data that is sent to a computer for processing by a program.

Output

Any data that is sent from a program to a device.

Program Statement/Code Statement

A command or instruction.

Program

A collection of program statements.

Sequential Programming

Program statements run in order, from top to bottom; does not require user interaction and will run the same way every time.

Event-Driven Programming

Triggered by an event, like a mouse click or key press.

Documentation

A written description of how a command or piece of code works or how it was developed.

Comment

Form of program documentation written into the program to be read by people that does not affect how the program runs.

Pair Programming

A collaborative programming style where two programmers switch between the roles of writing code and tracking or planning high level progress.

Driver

Manipulates the keyboard and the mouse.

Navigator

Keeps track of the big picture; guides towards the goal.

Value

One piece of information.

Numbers

Made of digits 0-9, no quotations.

Strings

Text fields that are a series of characters with quotations around them.

Variables

Placeholders to store values for later use; can hold at most one value.

Global Variable

Variable outside of onEvent.

Scope

Variable inside an onEvent block.

Operators

A symbol or keyword that tells the computer what operation to perform (+, -, /, etc).

Expression

Calculations to be evaluated to an answer or single value.

Boolean

True or false, requiring only one bit to represent its value.

Conditional

Something that will run if a certain condition is met.

Conditional Operators

Operators used to compare values.

Function/Procedure

Defining a specific sequence of code that will be executed any time if you make a call to that function anywhere in the code.

Data Abstraction

Hiding complex details of data to only show the essential information for the user.

Forms of Data Abstraction

Lists and functions.

Process of Data Visualization

Ask questions, collect data, clean and filter data, visualize data, generate new information.

Lists

A collection of items, such as a grocery list or playlist of music.

Index

Starts from 0 with the highest index always one less than the total number of elements in the list.

List Operators

Have operator and then (list, index).

appendItem

Add item to the end of the list.

insertItem

Insert an item at a specified index in the list.

removeItem

Remove an item from a specified index in the list.

.join

Turns elements in a list into a string.

list-1

To get an element of a list.