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Flashcards by David Bate, updated more than 1 year ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Identifier | A unique name for something. |
| Constant | A named value within a program that is assigned a specific value. |
| Variable | An identifier associated with a particular memory location, used to store data. |
| Data type | A formal description of the type of data being stored in a variable. It defines the amount of memory required and the type of operations that can be performed on that variable. |
| Integer | Data type for whole numbers. Typically uses 2 or 4 bytes. |
| Boolean | True or False |
| Assignment | When a variable is a given a value. |
| Algorithm | A series of instructions that solves a problem in a finite number of steps and that always ends. |
| Pseudocode | A way of writing an algorithm that is close to actual programming language, using coding-style constructs such as IF...THEN...ELSE, loops and array notation as appropriate. |
| Logical operators | NOT, AND, OR. Used in conditions/Boolean expressions. |
| Sequence | Where instructions are executed one after another in series. |
| Selection | When the program will execute certain instructions based on conditions. Selection statements include: IF... THEN... ELSE and CASE... OF to select which commands to execute. |
| Iteration | Where a program will execute a group of instructions zero or more times based on a condition. |
| Procedure | A block of code that performs a specific task. It has an identifier by which it can be called from within the program. |
| Function | A block of code that always returns a single value. |
| Parameter | A variable whose value is being passed into a function or procedure |
| Global Variable | A variable that is declared in the main program and can be accessed anywhere in the program. |
| Local Variable | A variable that is declared within a function/procedure, so it can only be accessed within that function or procedure. |
| Syntax | A set of rules that defines how program statements must be written in order for the translator to understand them. |
| IDE | Integrated Development Environment. A programming environment that provides features such as: code editing, debugging help and run-time diagnostics. |
| Trace Tables | A manual way of tracking progress through an algorithm before it is coded. It tracks the changing values of variables through the code. |
| Database | A file of records. |
| API | Application Programming Interface. The interface provided by operating systems for programmers to create their own applications that run on it. |
| Open Source Programs | Programs that are shared free of charge by developers and can be used in other programs, as long as the resulting product is also Open Source. |
| Data Structures | Temporary structures in main memory that hold multiple data items while a program is running. |
| Array | A collection of data items with the same data type, which are grouped together under a single identifier. |
| Waterfall Model | A series of separate stages; each one is completed and provides inputs to the next. |
| Cyclical Model | Structured stages as in the Waterfall Model, but once the system is in maintenance stage it generates new problems that lead back into the feasibility and so on. |
| Spiral Model | Has several iterations of the stages. Successive passes through the stages produce a more refined prototype until the program is complete. |
| Erroneous Data | Data that is not the right type such as letters instead of numbers. Should be rejected. |
| MTBF | Mean Time Between Failure: A measure of availability often quoted by hardware manufacturers. |
| CPU | Central processing unit that contains the processor, main memory and cache. |
| Main Memory/RAM | Also known as Immediate Access Store and Primary Memory. The memory in the CPU that is used to temporarily store programs while they are running and data used by these programs. |
| Processor | The component in the computer that fetches, decodes and executes instructions. |
| Cache | High speed memory in the CPU that is used to store a copy of frequently used instructions and data. |
| Clock Speed | Measured in Hertz or cycles per second, it represents how many instructions per second the processor can execute. |
| System Buses | The circuits/internal wiring that connect the components within the CPU together. |
| RAM | Random Access Memory: a type of memory that is read-write and volatile. Used for Main Memory. |
| ROM | Read Only Memory: memory that is hard-coded at the time of manufacture. Stores the start up programs, the boot-strap loader. |
| Volatile | Describes memory that loses its contents when the power is switched off. |
| Non-Volatile | Describes memory that does not lose its contents when the power is switched off. |
| Virtual Memory | Part of the hard disk that is configured to behave as an extension to main memory. |
| EEPROM | Electronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory. A chip made up of a grid of transistors, each of which can be set to the value 1 or 0. |
| ASCII | American Standard Code for Information Interchange: A 7-bit character set used by PCs. |
| Pixel | Short for picture element. It is the smallest component of a bit-mapped image. |
| Metadata | Data about data. In the case of image files is the data the computer needs to interpret the image data in the file. |
| Analogue | A continuously changing wave such as natural sound. |
| Digital | Data that is made up of separate values. How data is stored on a computer. |
| ADC | Analogue to Digital Converter: Takes real-world analogue data and converts it to a binary representation that can be stored on a computer. |
| Data | Facts and figures with no context or format to give them meaning. |
| Information | Processed data that has context and format so that it conveys meaning. |
| LAN | A collection of computers and peripherals connected within a single site. |
| WAN | A collection of computers and LANs connected together over a geographically remote area, using leased infrastructure. |
| Peer-to-peer | A method of organising devices in a network where devices are all of equal status rather than having specialised roles. |
| Client-server | A method of organising devices in a network where some computers have specialised roles. |
| Protocol | A set of rules that defines how devices communicate. |
| Handshake | The communication between a client and server that initiates communication. |
| Record | Data stored about one instance of an entity. |
| Field | One specific data item being stored such as surname or show size. |
| Query | A feature of a database system that allows the database to be interrogated. It selects records from the database based on specified criteria. |
| Index | A mechanism for finding records in a file/database more quickly. |
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