APCSP - Unit 3 Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards for AP Computer Science Principles Unit 3 covering programming concepts, data types, variable tracing, math operators, coordinate graphs, and FRQ command terms.

Compiler

A special program that takes care of converting programs into binary machine code.

Variable

Something that stores information in a program so that it can be used later; an abstraction inside a program that can hold a value.

Algorithm

A self-contained step-by-step set of instructions to solve a problem (accomplish a task); can be expressed in natural language, diagrams, or pseudocode, and constructed using sequencing, selection, and iteration.

String

An ordered sequence of characters.

Concatenation

Joins together two or more strings end-to-end to make a new string.

Input Function

A function that prints a prompt and retrieves text from the user.

Mouse Events

Events triggered when a user does something with a mouse, like clicking or moving.

Callback Function

A function that gets called by a program in response to some event.

Integer Data Type

Used when a value represents a whole number or something being counted, such as the number of students, number of tickets, or number of complete groups.

Float Data Type

Used when a value can contain a decimal, such as a temperature, measurement, average, or price.

String Data Type

Used when a value represents text, such as a name, username, or message.

User Input

Information the user directly enters or selects while using the program; always returned as a string by the $input()$ function.

$$int(input())$$

A function call that gets input from the user and converts that input into an integer for numerical calculations.

$$float(input())$$

A function call that gets input from the user and converts it into a float so decimal values can be used in calculations.

Variable Assignment Evaluation

When evaluating an assignment statement, the right side is calculated first, and the result is stored in the variable on the left side.

Variable Reassignment

Replaces the old value of a variable with a new value. When tracing code, always use the variable's most recently assigned value.

Operator Precedence

The mathematical order of operations: Parentheses $()$, Exponents $**$, Modulo/Multiplication/Division (evaluated left to right), and Addition/Subtraction (evaluated left to right).

Regular Division Operator ($/$)

Performs regular division and creates a floating-point number.

Floor Division Operator ($//$)

Performs floor division, creating an integer and rounding down to the nearest whole number.

Modulo Operator ($\%$)

An arithmetic operator that returns the remainder after division.

Exponentiation Operator ($**$)

An arithmetic operator that performs exponentiation (raising a number to a power).

Circle Representation on Coordinates

A circle centered at $(4, 6)$ with a radius of $2$ means the center point is at $(4, 6)$ and the edge of the circle is $2$ units away from the center.

Circle Radius vs. Diameter

Radius measures the distance from the center of the circle to its edge, while diameter measures the distance all the way across the circle (the diameter is twice the radius).

Nested Procedures Evaluation

When one supplied procedure appears inside another (nested), the inner procedure must be evaluated first.

FRQ Prompt: IDENTIFY

Directs the student to state the requested information directly and accurately.

FRQ Prompt: DESCRIBE

Directs the student to give details about what something is or what it does, including how the relevant expression determines its value.

FRQ Prompt: EXPLAIN

Directs the student to connect cause and effect, showing how or why one part of the program leads to the requested result.