coding in python vocab final

Algorithm

A step by step set of instructions used to solve a problem

Data

Stored information that a computer can process

Program

A set of instructions that tells a computer what to do

Binary digits

Groups of ones and zeros that represent information

Machine code

The lowest level programming language a computer can directly execute written in binary

High level programming languages

Programming languages designed to be user friendly and easier to read write and maintain

Syntax errors

Errors caused by incorrect spelling punctuation or structure in code

Logic errors

Errors where a program runs but produces incorrect results due to flawed logic

Interpreter

A program that translates and executes code line by line without creating a separate machine code file

Compiler

A program that translates all source code into machine code before execution creating an executable file

Virtual machine

A software based system that emulates a physical computer

Server

A computer or program that provides data or services to other computers over a network

Client

A computer or program that requests data or services from a server

Python shell

An interactive interpreter that executes Python commands immediately

Syntax

The rules that define how code must be written in a programming language

String

A data type used to represent text

Argument

A value passed to a function when it is called

Source code

Human readable instructions written in a high level programming language

Python virtual machine

The runtime engine that executes Python bytecode

Software development

The process of designing creating testing and maintaining software

Iterative

A development process that repeats steps to improve results

Waterfall model

A linear development model that follows fixed stages from start to finish

Data type

A classification that determines how data is stored and processed

Escape sequence

A backslash based code used to represent special characters

Concatenation

Combining two or more strings into one

Assignment statement

A statement that assigns a value to a variable using the equals sign

Comments

Non executable notes in code used for explanation

Docstring

A multi line comment written with triple quotes that documents Python code

End of line comments

A comment placed at the end of a line using a hash symbol

Function

A reusable block of code that performs a specific task

Arguments

Values passed to a function when it is called

Parameter

A variable defined in a function that receives a value

Return

Sending a result back from a function

Main module

The file that runs first when a program starts

Loops

Structures that repeat code multiple times

Count controlled loops

Loops that run a fixed number of times

List

A collection of items stored in brackets

Format string

A string containing placeholders for values

Format operator percent

A tool used to insert values into a format string

Boolean

A data type with two values true and false

If else statement

A decision structure that runs code based on a condition

Conditional iteration

Repeating code while a condition remains true

While loop

A loop that runs as long as its condition is true

Infinite loop

A loop that never stops because its condition never becomes false

Index

The position of an element in a sequence starting at zero

Methods

Functions that belong to an object

Root

The top level directory in a file system

Working directory

The directory currently being used

Pathname

A string that shows a file location

Absolute pathname

A full path starting from the root directory

Relative pathname

A path based on the current working directory

Database

An organized collection of data stored electronically

SQLite

A lightweight file based database system built into Python

Table

A structure of rows and columns that stores data

Primary key

A unique identifier for each row in a table

CRUD

The four basic operations create read update and delete

Connection

A link between a program and a database

Cursor

An object used to execute database commands and retrieve results

Query

A command sent to a database to retrieve or change data

SELECT statement

A command used to retrieve data from a database table

INSERT INTO statement

A command used to add new data to a table

UPDATE statement

A command used to change existing data in a table

DELETE statement

A command used to remove data from a table

Class

A blueprint used to create objects

Object

An instance of a class

Attribute

A variable that belongs to an object

Constructor

A special method that runs when an object is created

Instantiation

The process of creating an object from a class

Text file

A file that stores data as plain text

File path

The location of a file in a computer system

Write mode

A file mode that writes new content and replaces old content

Append mode

A file mode that adds content to the end of a file

Close

The action of ending access to a file

Read mode

A file mode that opens a file for reading

Read method

A method that reads the entire file as one string

Readline method

A method that reads one line at a time

Readlines method

A method that reads all lines into a list

Iteration

The process of looping through items

Type conversion

Changing data from one type to another

Text analysis

Using code to examine and count information in text

Normalize

Making text consistent using the same letter case

Tokenizing

Splitting text into smaller pieces such as words

Filter

Keeping only data that matches a rule

Overwrite

Replacing all existing file content

Cleaning data

Removing unwanted or invalid data from a file