AP Exam Vocabulary List

==

The equality operator (sometimes read: "equal equal") is used to compare two values, and returns a Boolean (true/false). Avoid confusion with the assignment operator "=",

Abstraction

Pulling out specific differences to make one solution work for multiple problems. (watch
this video

Aggregation

a computation in which rows from a data set are grouped together and used to compute
a single value of more significant meaning or measurement. Common aggregations include: Average,
Count, Sum, Max, Median, etc.

Algorithm

A precise sequence of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer

API

a collection of commands made available to a programmer

Array

A data structure in JavaScript used to represent a list.

ASCII

ASCII - American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII is the universally
recognized raw text format that any computer can understand.

asymmetric encryption

used in public key encryption, it is scheme in which the key to encrypt data
is different from the key to decrypt.

Bandwidth

Transmission capacity measure by bit rate

Binary

A way of representing information using only two options.

Bit rate

(sometimes written bitrate) the number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of
time. e.g. 8 bits/sec.

Bit

A contraction of "Binary Digit". A bit is the single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1.

Boolean Expression

in programming, an expression that evaluates to True or False.

Boolean

A single value of either TRUE or FALSE

Caesar Cipher

a technique for encryption that shifts the alphabet by some number of characters

Callback function

a function specified as part of an event listener; it is written by the programmer but called by the system as the result of an event trigger.

Canvas

a user interface element to use in HTML/JavaScript which acts as a digital canvas, allowing the programmatic drawing and manipulation of pixels, basic shapes, figures and images.

Cipher

the generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption

code

(v) to write code, or to write instructions for a computer.

Computationally Hard

a "hard' problem for a computer is one in which it cannot arrive at a solution in a reasonable amount of time.

Concatentate

to link together or join. Typically used when joining together text Strings in programming (e.g. "Hello, "+name)

Conditionals

Statements that only run under certain conditions.

Cracking encryption

When you attempt to decode a secret message without knowing all the specifics of the cipher, you are trying to "crack" the encryption.

Data Type

All values in a programming language have a "type" - such as a Number, Boolean, or String - that dictates how the computer will interpret it. For example, 7+5 is interpreted differently from "7"+"5"

Debugging

Finding and fixing problems in your algorithm or program.