Computer Programming Vocabulary 1

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High-level Programming Language

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Understandable by humans.

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Low-level Programming Language

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Understood by computers.

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Compiler

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Translates high-level source code to machine language object code (bytecode) all at once.

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Interpreter

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Executes high-level programs immediately after translating each individual instruction.

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Variable

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A memory location/unit named or labeled so it can be used in a program.

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Type

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Indication of what kind of data.

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Loops

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Instructions sequences repeated.

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Branches

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Test runs to decide between options.

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Subroutine

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Instructions for a task grouped together as a named unit.

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Structured Programming/Top-down Programming

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Break a large problem down into smaller and smaller pieces until you can solve one problem that can be solved directly without further decomposition. The problems with this however, is that it is incomplete because it only deals with the instructions rather than the data manipulation, plus, you can’t reuse previous work.

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Bottom-up Design

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Start at the bottom with what you already know and work up to the overall problem.

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Module

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Part of a bigger system it’s plugged into” that interacts with the rest simply, yet properly.

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Information Hiding

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The unimportance of what happens in a component, so long as it does its job correctly.

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OOP (Object-Oriented Programming)

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A kind of programming in which the chronological order of procedures with objects and messages in substitution.

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Object

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A kind of module holding data and subroutines.

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State

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Contained data.

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Messages

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Calling to the subroutines.

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Polymorphism

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Different objects responding to the same message differently.

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Class

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Objects containing the same data type and responding to the same message similarly.

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Subclass

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A class within a class.

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Command-line interface

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One person to one computer “terminal”, typing commands and getting typed responses.

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GUI (Graphic User Interface)

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Allows user control with a mouse and icons.

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Broadband connections

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Allows faster data transmission through DSL and cable modems rather than through telephone modems.

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Protocol

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Detailed specification of communication procedure.

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IP (Internet Protocol)

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How data physically transmits between computers.

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TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)

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Ensures data is received without error.

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SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol)

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Email message transfer between computers.

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PC (Program Counter)

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A register keeps track of address of next instruction the CPU executes.

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Transistors

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Millions of tiny switches that go on or off in the way that they are wired together and the executing program, making up the whole of the computer.

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Compound Names

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A name consisting of names separated by periods, which allow a path to an item through one or more levels of containment.

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Assignment statement

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variable= expression

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Literal

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A constant value in program representation.

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Parameter

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The value within the parentheses after the subroutine name. Also provides info to subroutine for what task must be completed.

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Variables must have 3 things...

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o Name (Identifier): You come up with it.
o Type: What kind of info.
o Value: Assign a value within the program.

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Syntax

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The vocabulary and rules that govern a computer language.

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Semantics

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The programs meaning and logic that, when done correctly, does what you want it to.

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Source Code

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The sum of the program’s syntax, semantics and logic.

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8 Data Types

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byte, short, int, long, float, double, char and boolean.

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The 8 primitive data types are also called "atomic" because...

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They are as simple as they can get, like an atom, which can't be broken up.

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These data types hold integers:

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Byte, short, int and long.

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These data types hold real numbers (leveld decimals).

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Float and double.

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This data type holds a single unicode character.

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Char

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This data type holds the 2 logical values of true/false.

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Boolean

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This data type responds to a single byte. Range;{-128, 127}

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Byte

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This data type responds to 2 bytes. Range;{-32768, 32767}

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Short

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This data type responds to 4 bytes: Range;{-2147483648, 2147483647}

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Int

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This data type responds to 8 bytes: Range;{-9223372036854775808, 9223372036854775807}

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Long

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This data type responds to 4 bytes: Max ;{ 1038} (About 7 significant digits.)

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Float

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This data type responds to 8 bytes: Max ;{ 10308} (About 15 significant digits.)

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Double

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Any numerical literal that contains a decimal point or exponential is type...

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double

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This data type responds to 2 bytes: must have ‘’ to be identified.

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char

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These values (not variables) don’t need quotation or anything. They are used mainly in control structures.

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boolean