comp sci

method

A predefined set of instructions that can be used to accomplish a task. It is available on a specific object.

Execute

To run a program or a single instruction.

Input

Data that is given to an algorithm during execution that can affect the results of the algorithm.

Code (Program) Statement

A part of a program code that expresses an action to be carried out.

Output

Data or actions produced by an algorithm, including any data sent from a program to a device.

Program Input

Data sent to a computer for processing by a program.

Runtime

The duration of time a program is executing, from start to finish.

Python Terminal

The window that displays textual output generated by a Python program.

Variable

A reference to a memory location that stores some value during the execution of a program.

Assignment Operator

Assigns a value to a variable. In Python, the symbol is =.

Expression

An expression is any word or group of words or symbols that after execution becomes a value.

Data Type

The kind of data being represented, such as a sequence of characters, an integer, or a true or false value, usually limiting the values allowed for the data.

Substring

A subset of characters within a string.

Object Oriented

A programming paradigm in which code defines classes with methods, including a method for creating an object in the class.

Code Segment

A collection of program statements that is part of a program.

Iteration

A repeating portion of an algorithm.

Modulo Operator

Calculates the remainder of division. In Python, the symbol is %.

Relational Operators

Used to test the relationship between two variables, expressions, or values.

Boolean Expression

An expression with relational operators that evaluates to either true or false.

Conditional Expression

A comparison, usually in a while or if statement, that evaluates to a Boolean value of true or false.

Arithmetic Operator

A symbol in code that tells a computer to perform a specific math operation, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.

Decidable Problem

A problem for which an algorithm can be written to produce correct output for all inputs.

Undecidable Problem

A problem for which no algorithm can be constructed that is capable of always providing a correct Yes-or-No answer.

Function

A block of code which only runs when it is called.

Parameter(s)

Piece(s) of information that you can give to functions when you call them.

Default Parameter

The value of a parameter if a value was not provided.

Return Statement

A special statement inside a function or method used to send the function's result back to the caller.

Return Value

The value that a function returns to the caller.

Namespace

The collection of names that exist at a certain point in your code.

Scope

A variable's scope refers to where the variable exists within a program.

"Out of Scope"

When a variable doesn't exist at a certain place (such as a different namespace).

Built-in Namespace

Contains all the names that come along with Python (such as the print function).

Global Namespace

The namespace that contains all of the global names in a module.

Local Namespace

The namespace that belongs to a function.

Argument(s)

The value of the parameter(s) given when the function is called.

File Extension

The abbreviation that comes after the period in a file name and identifies what the file contains, what programs can open it, and how to display the file.

Zip File

A file that is stored in a compressed format, often containing multiple files.

Compressed File

A file that is stored in a format that makes the file size smaller to save space on the computer.

Property

Characteristic of an object.

Module

A Python file.

Increment

To increase a value by 1 or another specified amount.

Object

An object is an instance of a class.