AP CSP Vocab (Chapter 2)

event handler

event handler

a block of code that reacts to an event like a button click

event-driven programming

in event-drive programming, the program is activated by events such as button clicks

horizontal arrangement

a component used to display a group of components laid out from left to right

UI components

parts of the user interface such as buttons, labels, etc.

user events

actions by the user such as button clicks

user interface

the part of computer application through which a user interacts with a program

abstracting

abstracting is the process of creating abstractions

abstraction

an abstraction is a general representation of something — of some person or place or event or process. abstractions extracts common features from specific examples in order to generalize concepts. words, symbols, maps, and models are all examples of everyday abstractions

algorithm

an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for solving a particular problem

base

the base of a number system refers to the numbers of distinct digits or symbols used to represent numbers in that system. our decimal system is base-10 because it uses 10 digits, 0 through 9

binary number system

a number system in which all numbers are represented in terms of the 2 binary digits, 0 and 1

bit

short for binary digit

boolean

condition that is either true/false; names after George Boole, an English mathematician

byte

8 bits

computing innovation

includes a program as an integral part of its function; a computing innovation can be physical, non-physical computing software, or non-physical computing concepts; self-driving cars, picture editing software, e-commerce, apps

constant

an abstraction that represents a single thing (the value 5)

control structure

a block of programming statements that controls the flow or behavior of an algorithm

data

the distinct information that is formatted in a special way; data exists in a variety of forms, like text on paper or bytes stored in electronic memory

data abstraction

a general way to access a collection of data

decimal number system

a base-10 system that we use every day, consisting of the symbols 0-9

http

hypertext transfer protocol

if/else

selection or conditional algorithm that allows a program to choose between different actions

input

data sent to a computer for processing by a program and can be tactile, audible, visual, or text

internet

the global public network of independent and autonomous networks that are governed by the internet protocol suite (TCPP/IP)

iteration

another term for repetition

network

group of two or more computers that are linked together

output

the data sent back from the program to the device and can be tactile, audible, visual, or text

overflow error

an error that occurs when the computer attempts to handle a number that is outside of the defined range of values can be represented

procedural abstraction

the practice of organizing and encapsulating algorithms in named procedures that can then be invoked by name (sqrt(x); square root of x)

program

code statements or a sequence of instruction to be executed by a computer to perform a task; software or an app

program function

behavior of a program when it is execute; what the code does when it is run

program purpose

intending to solve or the creative interest being pursued by a program; why the program is being written

protocol

a system of rules that govern the behavior of some system

pseudocode

blend of English and code used to write down an algorithm for a program

repetition

repetition of an algorithm for a specified number of times, or until a true/false condition is met

selection

uses a true or false condition to determine which of two parts of an algorithm is used

sequence

the application of each step of an algorithm in the order in which the statements are given

software

consists of the programs that control the computer

special purpose computer

a computer with a fixed program (calculator, watch, etc.)

TCP/IP

Transmission control protocol/internet protocol is the suite of protocols that determine the behavior of the internet

variable

names a memory location to hold different values in your program

www

an internet application of interlinked web pages based on the http protocol

www as a higher level of abstraction

burners-lee felt the www brought the internet to a higher level of abstraction

blacklist

a generic term for a list of email addresses of IP addresses for organizations that known to be spammers

browser

a program that displays web pages and is used to navigate the www

character

any symbol that requires one byte of storage

compilation

process of translating the entire source code into a single binary file

computer

machine that processes information under the control of a program

cyberspace

metaphor for describing the non-physical terrain created by computer systems

data center

physical or critical infrastructures used by enterprises to house computer, server, and networking systems and components for the company’s it needs

data network

telecommunications network which allows computers to exchange data

flowchart

visual notation for expressing algorithm

general purpose computer

computer that can run many different programs (smartphone)

hexadecimal number system

base-16 system, conditions of the 16 symbols (0-9, A-f)

high level language

programming language that is human readable and provides the programmer with easy to understand abstractions

IDE

software that provides comprehensive tools for programming such as UI design, code editing, and a way to interpret and run the program

IETF

international engineering task fork develops and oversees open standards such as http and smtp

interpretation

the process of translating source code into machine langue one instruction at a time and immediately executing instruction

logic gate

elementary building block of a digital circuit (AND, OR, and NOT, performing basic digital operations)

machine language

programming language that is directly readable by the computer’s cpu

morre’s law

projection that the number of transistors per square inch on integrated circuits will roughly double every two years since the integrated circuit was invented

octal number system

base-8 system, consisting of the symbols 0-7

open standard

standard that is not owned or controlled by a private entity; stands in contrast to proprietary materials, which are owned or controlled by a private entity

positional number system

the value of a digit in a number depends on its place

social network

social structure made of nodes that are generally individuals or organizations; represents relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, animals, computers, and other information processing entities

tim berners-less

www inventor

whitelist

generic name for a list of email address or ip addresses that are considered to be spam free

AND gate

circuit with two inputs and one output defined such that its output is TRUE (ON) only when both of its inputs are TRUE (ON)

chip

informal way of describing an integrated circuit consisting of millions of tiny circuits

CPU

central processing unit; part of the computer’s hardware that interprets and runs the computer program

disk drive

randomly addressable and rewritable storage device

flip flop

digital circuit that has two states, ON or OFF, and can be used to store a 1 or a 0; fundamental unit of computer memory

hardware

electronic and mechanical components that carries out the instructions of a computer program

integrated circuit

a chip, an electronic circuit formed on a small piece of semiconducting material, that integrates billions of tiny transistors and logic gates

motherboard

houses the computer’s main electronic components

NOT gate

circuit with one input and one output defined such that its output is TRUE (ON) when its input is FALSE (OFF)

OR gate

circuit with two inputs and one output defined such that its output is TRUE (ON) when either or both inputs are TRUE (ON)

processor

shorthand way of referring to a microprocessor or CPU

RAM

random access memory; stores the computers programs and data temporarily while power is on

transistor

semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals and electrical power; fundamental building blocks of electronic devices