APCSP ALL UNITS VOCABULARY

Digital Information

• Binary: Two options for representing information.
• Decimal: Ten options for representing information.
• Bit: Single unit of computer information (0 or 1).
• Byte: 8 bits.
• Overflow Error: Number too large to represent.
• Round-off Error: Number too precise; value is rounded.
• Analog Data: Data with continuous values.
• Digital Data: Data with discrete values.
• Sampling: Creating digital representation of analog data.
• Lossless Compression: Reduces bits without losing information; reversible.
• Lossy Compression: Reduces bits, some information lost; irreversible.
• Intellectual Property: Creative work with rights (patent, copyright, etc.).
• Creative Commons: Public copyright licenses for free distribution.

The Internet

• Computing Device: Machine that runs programs (computer, tablet, etc.).
• Computing System: Devices and programs working together.
• Computing Network: Interconnected devices sending/receiving data.
• Path: Connections between devices on a network.
• Bandwidth: Maximum data sent in a fixed time (bits per second).
• Protocol: Agreed-upon set of rules for system behavior.
• IP Address: Unique number assigned to each device on the Internet.
• Internet Protocol (IP): Protocol for sending data; assigns IP addresses.
• Router: Computer that forwards data across a network.
• Packet: Chunk of data sent over a network.
• Redundancy: Extra components for system to work despite failures.
• Fault Tolerant: Functions despite component failures.
• HTTP: Protocol for transmitting web pages.
• Domain Name System (DNS): Translates domain names to IP addresses.
• Internet: Interconnected networks using open communication protocols.
• World Wide Web: System of linked pages, programs, and files.
• Digital Divide: Differing access to devices and Internet.

Intro to App Design

• User Interface: Inputs and outputs for user interaction.
• Input: Data sent to a computer for processing.
• Output: Data sent from a program to a device.
• Program Statement: Command or instruction.
• Program: Collection of program statements.
• Sequential Programming: Statements run in order.
• Event Driven Programming: Statements run when triggered by an event.
• Documentation: Description of code.
• Comment: Program documentation for people.
• Pair Programming: Collaborative programming.
• Debugging: Finding and fixing program problems.
• Development process: Steps to create software.
• Event: Action supplying input data to a program.

Variables, Conditionals, and Functions

• Expression: Combination of operators and values that evaluates to a single value.
• Assignment Operator: Changes a variable's value.
• Variable: Named reference to a value.
• String: Ordered sequence of characters.
• Boolean Value: True or false data type.
• Comparison Operators: (
• Logical operator: NOT, AND, and OR, which evaluate to a Boolean value.
• Conditional Statement: Executes statements based on a Boolean expression.
• Function: Named group of programming instructions.
• Function Call: Executes code within a function.

Data

• Metadata: Data about data.
• Citizen Science: Research by distributed individuals using own devices.
• Cleaning Data: Making data uniform without changing meaning.
• Correlation: Relationship between two pieces of data.
• Crowdsourcing: Obtaining input from a large number of people via the Internet.
• Information: Facts and patterns extracted from data.
• Data bias: Data inaccurately reflecting the population.
• Data filtering: Choosing a smaller subset of a data set to use for analysis

Lists, Loops, and Traversals

• List: Ordered collection of elements.
• Element: Individual value in a list with a unique index.
• Index: Method for referencing elements in a list.
• Iteration: Repetitive portion of an algorithm.
• Infinite loop: Ending condition never met.
• Traversal: Accessing each item in a list.
• Data abstraction: manage complexity in programs by giving a collection of data a name without referencing the specific details of the representation.

Parameters, Return, and Libraries

• Parameter: Variable in a function definition.
• Argument: Value passed to the parameter.
• Return: Returns control and value from a function.
• Procedural abstraction: Allows a procedure to be used only knowing what it does, not how it does it
• Library: Group of functions for creating programs.
• API: Specifications for how functions in a library behave and can be used
• Modularity: the subdivision of a computer program into separate subprograms

Cybersecurity and Global Impacts

• Computing Innovation: Includes a program as an integral part of its function
• Personally Identifiable Information (PII): Information that identifies an individual.
• Phishing: Tricking users into providing personal information.
• Keylogging: Recording keystrokes to gain confidential information.
• Malware: Software to damage a system.
• Rogue Access Point: Unauthorized access to secure networks.
• Encryption: Encoding messages to keep them secret.
• Decryption: Reversing encryption.
• Symmetric Key Encryption: One key for encryption/decryption.
• Public Key Encryption: Public key for encryption, private key for decryption.
• Multi-factor Authentication: Multiple steps to unlock information.
• Computer Virus Scanning Software: Protects against infection.

Algorithms

• Problem: Task that can/cannot be solved with an algorithm.
• Algorithm: Finite set of instructions.
• Sequencing: Putting steps in an order.
• Selection: Deciding which steps to do next.
• Iteration: Repeating steps.
• Efficiency: Number of steps to complete an algorithm.
• Linear Search: Checks each element in order.
• Binary Search: Removes half the data in each step.
• Reasonable Time: Polynomial efficiency.
• Unreasonable Time: Exponential or factorial efficiencies.
• Heuristic: "Good enough" solution.
• Decision Problem: Yes/no answer.
• Optimization Problem: Finding the "best" solution.
• Undecidable Problem: No algorithm can provide a correct answer.
• Sequential Computing: One command at a time.
• Parallel Computing: Running pieces simultaneously.
• Distributed Computing: Running by multiple devices.
• Speedup: Sequential time divided by parallel time.