APCSP Final Review

Abstraction

The process of simplifying complex systems by focusing on the essential features while ignoring the irrelevant details

helps in managing complexity in programming and problem-solving

Algorithm

a step by step process that describes how to solve a problem in a way that always gives a correct answer

Boolean logic

takes two statements or expressions and applies a logical operator to generate a value that can be either true or false

Comment

a note in the code explaining a portion of it

necessary if there is a reader besides the creator

Compilation

The process of source code being translated into machine code

Debugging

The process of identifying and removing errors from a computer program

Decomposition

the process of breaking down a complex problem or system into smaller parts that are more manageable and easier to understand

Documentation

written materials, such as user manuals or technical guides, that provide information about how to use and maintain a software program

Flow Chart

a visual representation of an algorithm or process, showing the steps and their order using shapes and arrows

Function

how the code achieves its purpose

Purpose

the specific reason or goal for which a program or function is designed, outlining what it aims to accomplish

Input

data received by a program or function for processing

Iteration

The repetition of steps in an algorithm or program for a certain amount of times or until a certain condition is met

Logic Error

A mistake in an algorithm or program that causes it to behave unexpectedly or return the incorrect value

For loop

a control structure used to repeat a block of code a specified number of times

While Loop

repeatedly executes a block of code as long as a specified condition remains true

Output

the result or value produced by a program or function after it has been executed

Fair Programming

the practice of writing code that is transparent, understandable, and promotes collaboration and inclusivity among programmers

Parameter

a special kind of variable used in a function to refer to one of the pieces of data provided as input to the function

Procedure

a set of instructions that perform a specific task and can be reused in different parts of a program

Pattern recognition

the ability to see similarities or trends in data, which helps in problem-solving and algorithm development

Pseudocode

a detailed yet readable description of what a computer program or algorithm should do, written in a readable style using natural syntax

Runtime Error

errors that can only be detected while the program is running

Scalability

the measure of a system's ability to increase or decrease in performance and cost in response to changes in application and system processing demands

Syntax Error

A mistake in typed code that violates the rules of the programming language. Typically, code will not run

Array

a special variable that can hold more than one value at a time

Binary Tree

a tree data structure in which each node has at most two children, referred to as the left child and the right child

commonly used for efficient storage and retrieval of data, with various operations such as insertion, deletion, and traversal

Boolean Data Type

a data type that has one of two possible values (usually denoted true and false) which is intended to represent the two truth values of logic

Character data type

a data type with the size of exactly one byte

Data Type

a classification that specifies the type of data a variable or object can hold

First-in-first-out (FIFO)

a method for organizing the manipulation of a data structure where the oldest/first entry, or "head" of the queue, is processed first

Hash Table

a data structure that implements an associative array, also called a dictionary or simply map

Integer Data Table

a data type that represents some range of mathematical numbers

Last-in-first-out (LIFO)

a data structure in which the newest element added to the stack is processed first

Primitive Data Type

a set of basic data types from which all other data types are constructed

Queue

a collection of entities that are maintained in a sequence and can be modified by the addition of entities at one end of the sequence and the removal of entities from the other end of the sequence

Stack

a data structure used in computer science which operates based on the last-in-first-out (LIFO) principle

String Data Type

a data type that is a sequence of characters

2 to the power of n

the number of possible values that can be represented by a binary number with n bits

Binary

number system that only uses 0 and 1

Decimal

the standard base-10 number system used in everyday life

Hexadecimal

a base-16 number system that uses digits 0-9 and letters A-F (representing 10-15)

used for colors

Operators

symbols that perform specific actions on data, like mathematical calculations or logical comparisons

+

addition

-

subtraction

*

multiplication

/

division

%

modulus - remainder of division

ex: 10 ___ 3 = 1

**

exponentation

//

floor division - rounds down to the nearest whole number

=

assign

+=

add and assign

-=

subtract and assign

*=

multiply and assign

/=

divide and assign

%=

modulus and assign

//=

floor divide and assign

**=

exponentiate and assign

!=

not equal to

==

equal to

>

greater than

<

less than

>=

greater than or equal to

<=

less than or equal to

And

returns True if both operands are true

OR

returns True if at least one operand is true

NOT

reverses the boolean value of the operand

n! (factorial)

is the product of all positive integers up to n, where n is a non-negative integer

ex: 1 × 2 × 3 × 4…. × n

nth term of a fibonacci series

finding the specific value at a particular position in the Fibonacci sequence

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

responsible for executing instructions and processing data

Graphics Card

a computer expansion card that generates a feed of graphics output to a display device such as a monitor

Hard Drive

a physical computer component that stores data, including programs, pictures, documents and your operating system

RAM

the short-term memory that software can use to store data quickly and temporarily

I/O (Binary Power)

Input/Output operations in computing that manage the data interchange between the computer and external devices

Accelerometer

a device that measures the acceleration forces acting on it, used in smartphones and other devices to detect orientation and movement

Light sensor

a device that detects and measures light levels

Buttons

Devices that allow users to input commands or control actions on electronic devices or interfaces

Keyboard

a set of keys that input data or commands into a computer or device, often used for typing or gaming

LEDs Display

a series of light-emitting diodes used to visually display information or indicators

Database

a structured collection of data that can be easily accessed, managed, and updated

HTML/CSS

languages used for creating and styling web pages.

NoSQL (“Not only SQL”)

databases that come in a variety of types based on their data model. The main types are document, key-value, wide-column, and graph. They provide flexible schemas and scale easily with large amounts of big data and high user loads.

Structured Query Language (SQL)

a programming language for storing and processing information in a relational database

Webpage

A document that is displayed in a web browser and can be accessed through the World Wide Web, often created using HTML and styled with CSS

Website

A collection of related web pages that are typically identified by a common domain name and can include multimedia content.

Are hosted on web servers and accessed via the internet.

Authentication

the process of verifying the identity of a user or device attempting to access a system or network

Compression

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

Cybersecurity

the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS)

an attack that occurs when multiple compromised computers flood a target system with an overwhelming amount of internet traffic, causing it to become overloaded and unavailable to legitimate users

Digital Signatures

a way to sign a document to verify the identity of the sender. The signature is created by compressing the message into a digest and encrypting it with the sender's private key

Encryption

The process of scrambling data to prevent unauthorized access

Phishing

An attack where a user is tricked into revealing private information, often via a deceptive email

Personal Identification Number (PIN)

numerical passcode used in the process of authenticating a user accessing a system

• commonly used in banking, telecommunications, and security systems

Privacy

the ability of a person to determine for themselves when, how, and to what extent personal information about them is shared with or communicated to others

Ransomware

holds system captive and demands a ransom

.CSV (Comma Separated Values)

file format for storing data

.DOC

file type to document projects, explain code, or provide research notes

.JPG (also called JPEG)

used for images

• lossy

• makes quality worse by averaging pixels to even out colors

.MP4

a popular video format used to share, download, and stream video content. The format can store audio, images, and subtitles

.PDF (Portable Document Format)

the format used when you need to save files that can’t be modified but still need to be easily shared and printed