AP CSA Unit 1

Java

A high-level, object-oriented programming language used for building cross-platform applications.

Class

The starting point of every Java program.

Main Method

The entry point of a Java program, defined as public static void main(String[] args).

Syntax

The strict rules that Java code must follow to run correctly.

Semantics

The meaning behind the syntax in Java code.

Compilation

The process of converting Java code into bytecode using the Java compiler.

Java Virtual Machine (JVM)

The environment that executes the compiled bytecode of Java programs.

Simple Programs

Java programs that perform basic tasks like printing messages or calculations.

Method

A block of code in Java consisting of a header and a body.

Comments

Annotations in Java code that are ignored during execution, using single-line (//) or multi-line (/* */) formats.

Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

Software like BlueJ, IntelliJ IDEA, or Eclipse used to write, compile, and run Java programs.

Command Line

A method to compile and run Java programs using terminal commands (javac and java).

Syntax Errors

Mistakes in code that violate syntax rules, such as missing semicolons.

Runtime Errors

Errors that occur during program execution, like dividing by zero.

Primitive Data Types

Basic data types in Java, including int, double, boolean, and char.

Literals

The fixed values assigned to variables in Java.

Arithmetic Operations

Basic mathematical operations in Java, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and modulus.

Type Casting

The process of converting one data type to another in Java.

Variable Declaration

The process of defining a variable with a specific type before use.

Assignment

The act of assigning a value to a declared variable using the assignment operator (=).

Constants

Variables declared with the final keyword that cannot be changed after initialization.

Scope of Variables

The region in the code where a variable is accessible, with local variables being accessible only within their method.

Expressions

Combinations of variables, literals, and operators evaluated to produce a value.

Arithmetic Operators

Symbols used to perform mathematical operations, including +, -, *, /, and %.

Increment/Decrement Operators

Operators (++, --) used to increase or decrease a variable's value by 1.

Order of Operations

The rules (PEMDAS) that dictate the sequence in which operations are performed in expressions.