ISCH 110: Principles of Computing

Rochester Institute of Technology Principles of Computing Course Vocabulary

Programming Language

Tells a computer what to do. Python and Java are languages that can tell a computer what to do

Library

Group of programs providing functionality

Python

A type of programming language

code

instructions read by the computer to execute a task

program

synonymous with code

computer

A device that performs actions on input

dot-notation

object_name.attribute_name

object_name.method_name(arguments)
how you ask an object to do something in python.

pixel

A small element of a picture stored in a grid having color and intensity values that determine its appearance.
pixels also have x (horizontal) and y (vertical) values

string

text encased between quotations “ “ that represent characters

variable

name holding a value in computer memory

screen

part of the turtle library. space on the page for the turtle to move and draw

comment

a line of non-executable code that explains what the code does. Human readable

turing machine

theoretical computer that reads and prints instructions from tape

Arithmetic Expression

contains mathematic expression or operation

assignment

giving a variable a value

myVal = 4

assignment dyslexia

putting the variable name on the right and the variaible name on the left. incorrect syntax

ex. myVal = 4

camel case

camelCase ← when the first word of a variable is lowercase and additional words are capitalized
ex. spongebobSquarePants ←like this

modulo

the remainder operator

tracing

in a program, you’re keeping track of the variables in the program and how the values change as the statements are executed

append

adding two strings together using the + symbol

capitalize

a function that returns a new string with the first letter capitalized

concatenate

using the + to concatenate (or append) two strings. This will create a new string with all the characters of the first and second string.

ex. string3 = string1 + string2

function

returns a value. Can take inputs as well, but don’t have to

immutable

does not change.

index

a number association with the position of a character in a string. In python, the first character of a string is indexed at 0

object

can have behavior, things that it can do.

string

a sequence of characters. Can be encased inside a pair of double, single, or triple quotes

substring

a substring is part of a string.

ex. string → “Hello there!”

substring → “Hello”

body syntonic

means experiences related to your body. You can use the knowledge of how you move your body to help you understand how to move the turtle objects

comment

describes one or more lines of code. usually ignored by the computer. denoted with a #

object

can have data and behavior

abstraction

focusing on just the important details in a context.
ex. the abstract female figure used to indicate a women’s restroom

actual parameter

a value passed into a procedure or function when its called. Also called an argument

argument

a value passed into a procedure or function when it is called.

call

to make one, use the name of the procedure/function followed by values you want to pass in.

ex. forward(50)

define

can make a new procedure or function in python using the def keyword.

execute

to run or call a function/procedure

formal parameter

named input in the definition.

function

named set of instructions that return a result.

library

named group of related procedures/functions

procedure

named set of instructions that does not return a result, but can cause something to happen

accumulator pattern

a set of steps that processes a list of values.

body of a loop

a statement or set of steps that are meant to be repeated over and over. Python indicates the start of a loop with an indentation

iteration

the ability to repeat a step or set of steps in a program.

list

holds a sequence of items in order

loop

tells the computer to repeat a statement or set of statements