Compsci/java Midterm

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Parameter Passing

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The most common methods are to pass the value of the actual parameter (call by value), or to pass the address of the memory location where the actual parameter is stored (call by reference). The latter method allows the procedure to change the value of the parameter, whereas the former method guarantees that the procedure will not change the value of the parameter.

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accessor method

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A method that accesses an object but does not change it and returns a value

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Actual Parameter

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The expression supplied for a formal parameter of a method by the caller

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Address

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unique number with each memory location

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Algorithm

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An unambiguous executable and terminating specification of a way to solve a problem; solves math problem in a finite number of steps

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Argument

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An actual parameter in a method call or one of the values combined by an operator

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Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)

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A digital circuit that performs arithmetic and logical operations

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ASCII

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represents text in computers communications equipment and other devices that use text; a code that allows for information exchange between computers

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Binary

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system of numerical notation that uses base 2 instead of base 10; there are only 1's and 0's

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Bit

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binary digit; smallest unit of information, having two possible values 0 and 1; data with n bits has 2^n possible values

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Boolean

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a subset of algebra used for creating true/false statements

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Boolean Expression

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an expression that results in a value of either true or false

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Boolean Operator

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an operator that can be applied to boolean values; 3 logic operators: &, ||, and !

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Byte

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made up of 8 bits

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Cache Memory

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component that transparently stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster

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Cast

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explicitly converting a value from one type to a different type; to change the type of an object

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Class

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a programmed defined data type

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Computer Science

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Study of theoretical foundations of information and computations and of practical techniques for their implementation and application for computer systems; study of algorithms: 1) formal and math properties 2) hardware realizations 3) linguistic realizations 4) application

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Constructor

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a method that initializes a newly instantiated object

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Control Unit

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circuitry that controls flow of information through the processor and coordinates the activities of the other units within the processor

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Encapsulation

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the hiding of implementation details

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Explicit Parameter

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a parameter of a method other than the object on which the method is involved

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Flops

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an inverter that makes the input false

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Formal Parameter

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a variable in a method definition; initialized with an actual parameter value when the method is called

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Gigabyte

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1 billion bytes

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I/O Buffer

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A buffer; the ..(?)

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I/O Controller

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Special-purpose computer whose responsibility is to handle the details of input/output and to compensate for any speed differences between I/O devices and other parts of the computer

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Integrated Development Environment (IDE)

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a programming environment that includes an editor, compiler, and debugger

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Implicit Parameter

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the object on which the method is involved

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Initialize

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setting a variable to a well-defined value when it is created

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Instance

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an object whose type is class

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Instance Variable

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a variable defined in a class

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Instantiation

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construction of an object of that class

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Instruction Set

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complete set of all the instructions in the machine code that can be recognized and executed by a central processing unit

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Kilobyte

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1,024 bytes

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Local Variable

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a variable whose scope is a block

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Logic Gate

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a computer circuit with several inputs and 1 output

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Loop

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sequence of instructions that is executed repeatedly

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Machine Language

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instructions that can be executed directly by CPU

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Mass Storage

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record, store, and read "masses" of data; non-volatile

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Megabyte

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1 million bytes

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Memory

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a value that specifies the location of data in computer memory

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Memory Access Register (MAR)

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holds the address of the memory location of the next instruction to be executed

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Memory Data Register (MDR)

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register of the computer's control unit that contains the data to be stored in the computer storage

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Method

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sequence of statements that has a name (??)

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Mutator Method

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method that changes the state of an object

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Object

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a value of a class type

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Object Reference

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a value that denoted the location of an object in memory; in java, a variable whose type is class and contains an object of reference to that class

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Object-Oriented Programming

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designing a program by discovering objects, their properties and their relationships

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Parameter

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item of information that is specified to a method when the method is called

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Primitive Data Type

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a number type of boolean

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Pseudocode

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high level descriptions of a program of algorithm using a mixture of english and informal programming language syntax; must have input and output

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Random Access Memory (RAM)

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electronic circuits in a computer that store code and data of running programs

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Register

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record in an official list of recording of items, names, or actions

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Scope

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the part of the program in which a variable is defined

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Software

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programs/procedures and rules pertaining to operation of computer system

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Stored Program Concept

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storage of instructions in computer memory to enable it to perform a variety of tasks in a sequence of intermittently

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Syntax

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rules that define how to form instructions in particular programming language

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Terabyte

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1,000 gigabytes

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Transistor

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small electronic device containing a semi-conductor and having at least three electrical contacts; used in a circuit as an amplifier, detector, or switch

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Truth Table

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diagram in rows or columns showing how the truth and falsity of a proposition varies with its components

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Von Neumann Architecture

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computer design model that uses a processing unit and a single separate storage structure to hold both instructions of data; design architecture for an electronic digital computer with subdivisions of a processing unit: 1) memory 2) input/output 3) ALU 4) Control Unit

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White Space

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any sequence of only space, tab, and newline characters