Python Vocabulary

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algorithm

Back 1

A general process for solving a category of problems.

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bug

Back 2

An error in a program.

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debugging

Back 3

The process of finding and removing any of the three kinds of programming errors.

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exception

Back 4

Another name for a runtime error.

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executable

Back 5

Another name for object code that is ready to be executed.

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formal language

Back 6

Any one of the languages that people have designed for specific purposes, such as representing mathematical ideas or computer programs; all programming languages are formal languages.

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high-level language

Back 7

A programming language like Python that is designed to be easy for humans to read and write.

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interpret

Back 8

To execute a program in a high-level language by translating it one line at a time.

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low-level language

Back 9

A programming language that is designed to be easy for a computer to execute; also called machine language or assembly language.

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natural language

Back 10

Any one of the languages that people speak that evolved naturally.

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object code

Back 11

The output of the compiler after it translates the program.

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parse

Back 12

To examine a program and analyze the syntactic structure.

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portability

Back 13

A property of a program that can run on more than one kind of computer.

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print statement

Back 14

An instruction that causes the Python interpreter to display a value on the screen.

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problem solving

Back 15

The process of formulating a problem, finding a solution, and expressing the solution.

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program

Back 16

a sequence of instructions that specifies to a computer actions and computations to be performed.

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Python shell

Back 17

An interactive user interface to the Python interpreter. The user of a Python shell types commands at the prompt (>>>), and presses the return key to send these commands immediately to the interpreter for processing.

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runtime error

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An error that does not occur until the program has started to execute but that prevents the program from continuing.

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script

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A program stored in a file (usually one that will be interpreted).

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semantic error

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An error in a program that makes it do something other than what the programmer intended.

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semantics

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The meaning of a program.

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source code

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A program in a high-level language before being compiled.

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syntax

Back 23

The structure of a program.

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syntax error

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An error in a program that makes it impossible to parse — and therefore impossible to interpret.

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token

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One of the basic elements of the syntactic structure of a program, analogous to a word in a natural language.