Programming Logic and Design - Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key hardware, software, data storage, and programming concepts from Chapter 1.

Program

A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task; commonly referred to as software.

Programmers

Individuals who have the training and skill to design, create, and test computer programs; also known as software developers.

Hardware

The physical devices that a computer is made of.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The part of a computer that runs programs and performs the tasks required by software, often referred to as the processor.

ENIAC

Built in 1945 for the U.S. Army to calculate artillery ballistic tables, it was the world's first programmable computer, featuring a CPU that was 8 feet tall, 100 feet long, and weighed 30 tons.

Random-Access Memory (RAM)

The computer's main memory and work area, used for temporary storage of running programs and data; it is volatile and erases when power is turned off.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Nonvolatile memory whose contents a computer can read but cannot modify; typically used to store critical operating programs such as the system startup program.

Secondary Storage Devices

Types of memory that hold programs and data for long periods of time, retaining information even when power is turned off.

Input

Any data the computer collects from people and from other devices.

Input Device

The hardware component that collects data, such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, scanner, microphone, or digital camera.

Output

Any data the computer produces for people or for other devices.

Output Device

The hardware component that formats and presents data to users or other devices, such as a monitor or printer.

System Software

Programs that control and manage the basic operations of a computer, including operating systems, utility programs, and software development tools.

Application Software

Programs that people spend most of their time running to perform everyday tasks, such as word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software.

Byte

A tiny storage location in memory capable of holding one number; composed of eight bits.

Bit

Short for binary digit; a tiny electrical component in memory that holds either a positive charge (1) or a negative charge (0).

ASCII

American Standard Code for Information Interchange; a character coding scheme consisting of 128 numeric codes.

Unicode

An extensive character encoding scheme compatible with ASCII that represents characters for many languages across the world.

Two's Complement

An encoding technique used in computers to represent negative numbers.

Floating-Point Notation

An encoding scheme used by computers to represent real numbers.

Pixels

Short for picture elements; tiny dots of color that compose digital images.

Instruction Set

The entire set of instructions that a specific brand of CPU is designed to execute.

Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle

The three-step process performed by the CPU to read, translate, and perform the instructions of a program.

Assembly Language

A low-level programming language that uses short words called mnemonics instead of binary numbers.

Assembler

A program used to translate assembly language into machine language.

High-Level Languages

Programming languages that allow creation of complex programs using words easy to understand, without needing detailed CPU knowledge.

Key Words

Specific reserved words in a programming language that have a unique purpose and predefined meaning.

Syntax

A strict set of rules that must be followed when writing instructions in a programming language.

Compiler

A program that translates high-level language source code into a separate machine language program.

Interpreter

A program that both translates and executes high-level language instructions.

Syntax Error

A mistake in code such as a misspelled word, missing punctuation, or incorrect operator usage that violates language rules.