PLTW CSP Final vocab

The values that the programmer provides in the function call.

Arguments

The '\=' character causes the compiler or interpreter to evaluate to the expression on its right and store the result in the variable(s) on its left.

Assignment Operator

A group of program statements that are grouped together, denoted by indentation in Python.

Block of Code

The set of functions available to the programmer without the need to use any "import" or "include" statements.

Built-in Function

Code telling the interpreter or compiler to execute a function or method defined elsewhere, replacing the call with a return value if applicable.

Call

Any single typeset unit, including uppercase and lowercase letters, digits, punctuation marks, international characters like letters with Ümläüts, and special characters like tabs and carriage returns.

Character

A duplicate copy.

Clone

A variable or value with several elements such as a string, tuple, or list.

Collection

A computer program created to read an entire program and convert it into a lower-level language and ultimately to assembly language used by the processor.

Compiler

A conditional with one or more logical operators used to incorporate several logical expressions.

Compound Conditional

Python allows a programmer to specify the value for an argument if the function is called without that actual argument.

Default Value

The set of differences between two versions of the same piece of code.

Diff

A special comment located at the beginning of a program or the beginning of a function that is used to automatically create help documentation.

Docstring

A single object or variable/value in a collection.

Element

To determine the result of an expression.

Evaluate

An error or other message raised by the interpreter or compiler to indicate a special circumstance that should be handled by an exception handler. If an exception is not handled, the program will stop and report the error.

Exception

A native type representing rational numbers to limited precision.

Float

A graphic organizer that can be used to show the procedural pathways within a program.

Flow Chart

For internal use within a function, formal arguments are names that represent data passed to the function, discarded after the function has been executed.

Formal Arguments

A unique identifier given to the function when it is defined and used again whenever the function is called.

Function Name

Releases memory that was used for a variable's value once the variable is no longer to be used by a program.

Garbage Collection

Process for evaluating the correctness or effectiveness of a piece of software while examining its algorithmic structure.

Glass Box Testing

Not able to be changed after creation.

Immutable

In Python\______________ is a key word for using one module of code from inside another module.

Import

A native type representing positive whole numbers and their opposites.

Int

Converts a program written in a higher level language into a lower level language and executes it, beginning execution before converting the entire program.

Interpreter

A property of collections that is used to provide elements one at a time and in sequence.

Iterable

The bits that contribute the smallest amount to the overall value of a binary number, including the 1s place value.

Least Significant Bits

A collection of modules.

Library

Algorithmic structure for performing the instructions multiple times, with each pass through the loop called an iteration. Usually controlled by a condition evaluated with each iteration.

Loop

Zeros and ones that represent simple instructions executed by a processor.

Machine Code

An encapsulated collection of one or more related classes, each with its own methods and attributes.

Module

Denoted by either ''', or """ these can generate docstrings and allow the programmer to leave notes in code that span several lines without having to type '\#' at the beginning of each line.

Multi-line Comment

Python allows a programmer to assign values to several variables at once. This may be used to store a group of values returned by a function.

Multiple Assignment

An object that is able to be changed after its creation.

Mutable

The set of variable and function names that have been reserved by the compiler/interpreter.

Namespace

The types of data built into a programming language, often faster and more efficient with resources.

Native Type

A string that contains no characters.

Null String

The digital representation of an instruction that will be fetched, decoded, retrieved, and executed by the CPU.

Op Code

A very tiny part of the processor microchip that stores bits of data, typically 32 or 64 bits in modern computers.

Register

Any value that a method or function gives back to the statement command from which the function or method is called.

Return Value

The portion of a program that knows about a variable and can access its value. In Python a variable has a local scope (the variable can only be used in a function definition) or global scope (the variable can be used anywhere in the source file of code).

Scope

Selecting a portion of a collection.

Slicing

A native type in Python representing a sequence of characters. Strings are both iterable and immutable.

String

The grammar of a programming language, defining what specific sequences of characters are allowed, what they mean, and how they can be put together.

Syntax

A software package designed to evaluate the correctness or effectiveness of another software solution.

Test Suite

A software development process in which developers first create a test suite and then create the code to satisfy the test suite, e.g., Xtreme Programming.

Test-Driven Design

A list of code that was executed just before an exception stopped the program.

Traceback

A native type in Python that can store a collection but cannot assign new values to individual elements.

Tuple

Converting data from one type to another, e.g., from string to int, potentially losing information.

Type Casting

Without duplicates; a unique set of numbers is a group of numbers such that no number appears twice.

Unique

Ensure that the values stored in variables are of the correct type and/or within appropriate value ranges.

Validate

A process in which the name you give a variable is stored in a lookup table along with the memory address that the interpreter should access when the variable is referenced in the future.

Variable Binding

A process to keep track of what changes were made to what files so that a specific version can be referred to and improvements in multiple versions can be merged together.

Version Control

The directory in the file system you are currently "in".

Working Directory

Maintains a running total.

Accumulator Variable

Stores a list of values built up over time and remembers separate individual values.

Aggregator Variable

A method of software development that emphasizes frequent client input to produce better end products.

Agile Design

A step-by-step procedure, like a recipe, but often involving decisions.

Algorithm

Keeps track of a record best or worst and updates when a new record best or worst has been reached.

Best-so-far Variable

Evaluates to either true or false; used in the conditional of an if-structure.

Boolean Expression

Part of a program that causes an error or undesired output.

Bug

The part of the computer that executes one instruction at a time.

Central Processing Unit (CPU, or core)

Instructions in a program.

Code

The Boolean expression in an if-structure that is evaluated to determine which branch of code to execute.

Conditional

The process of figuring out why code doesn't behave as expected and eliminating bugs to make it work as desired.

Debugging

Keeping details (like data and procedures) together in one part of a program so that programmers working on other parts of the program don't need to know about them.

Encapsulation

A "trigger" from the user or from a program that causes a specific part of the program to execute.

Event

A piece of code that responds to an event.

Event Handler

To run a program or a single instruction.

Execute

Stores a value that will not change over the course of the entire program.

Fixed Variable

Evaluates a Boolean expression and executes some code if the expression is true (and possibly other code if it is false).

If-structure

Data that is used by a program.

Input

Provides a developer with a way to create a program, run the program, and debug the program all within one application.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Repeating a step-by-step procedure several times; also used to refer to single execution of that repetitive procedure.

Iteration

The parts of computer that can store data or instruction, including volatile memory (lost when the computer is turned off) and non-volatile memory (retained when the computer is turned off).

Memory

Information about a program or data file, including date created and author information.

Meta-information

A set of instructions grouped together to do something to or with an object.

Method

An instruction to use a method.

Method Call

A group of instructive code that exists as an independent unit, which is easy to use with other code as needed.

Modular Code

Stores user input or stores information about a program's state that changes unpredictably.

Most Recent Variable

Stores whether a condition has been true yet; reset before iteration and possibly raised during iteration.

One-way Flag Variable

The effect that a program has on its environment.

Output

A prioritized list of user stories, showing both short- and long-term goals of a software development team.

Product Backlog

An outline of the basic ideas behind how algorithms will work.

Pseudocode

A set of instructions. In Scratch a script is a single stack of blocks belonging to one sprite or to the stage.

Script

The most common framework for Agile Development.

Scrum

A list of small specific tasks to be completed during the current sprint in the scrum method of software development.

Sprint Task List

A graphics object that can be moved on top of or behind a background.

Sprite

Data that describes everything about how a program exists at a given time; a snapshot of a program.

State

Shows the ways that a program could progress from each state to other states.

State Diagram

A variable that counts in an arithmetic sequence, usually counting by ones starting at 0 or 1.

Stepper Variable

Precise rules defining how the letters, words, and punctuation of a programming language are required to be used together.

Syntax

One method of determining the strength of artificial intelligence, in which a human tries to decide if the intelligence at the other end of a text chat is human.

Turing Test

Plain-language description of a user's need for the software under development, usually phrased as "(who) wants to (do what within the software) so that they can (do what in real life)".

User Stories

Describe why a variable is being used in a program.

Variable Roles

Stores one item from a list at a time during iteration.

Walker Variable

A method of software development that emphasizes completing each stage of the design process before beginning the next stage.

Waterfall Design

Creating simple concise representations of more complex phenomena so that people can more easily work with, communicate about, and learn about anything.

Abstraction

A continuous method of representing information.

Analog