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Texas Fundamentals of Computer Science Glossary

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Pseudocode General

Pseudocode is a brief explanation of code in plain English.

Pseudocode

documentation General

Written instructions detailing the functions, methods, and variables available and how to use them.

Pair Programming General

Pair programming is a collaborative programming practice where two programmers work together at one computer on the same piece of code.

Computer General

A person or device that makes calculations, stores data, and executes instructions according to a program.

Computer

Hardware General

The physical components of a computer

Software General

Programs that can be run on a computer

Input Devices General

Input devices are computing devices that are used to take in information from a user or another device.

Output Devices General

Output devices are computing devices that are used to send computer data to the user.

operating system (OS) General

The primary software that runs applications and manages all the hardware, memory and other software on a computer.

file system General

A method of organizing files and retrieving them from storage.

File General

a digital container that holds information or data on a computer

motherboard General

A circuit board with ports and sockets used to connect the main devices of a computer.

central processing unit (CPU) General

The core component of a device that accepts and executes instructions.

random access memory (RAM) General

A fast type of computer memory which temporarily stores all the information your device needs right away.

Storage Devices General

Storage devices are computing devices that remember information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) General

the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings

Output Device General

A device a computer uses to show or present information to a user

lowerCamelCase General

`lowerCamelCase` is a naming convention where the first letter is lower case, and each subsequent start of a word is upper case.

lowerCamelCase

Karel General

Karel is a dog who listens to your commands.

Karel

Command JavaScript

A command is an instruction you can give to Karel.

Command

Debugging General

Debugging is fixing a problem in your code.

Debugging

Define a Function JavaScript

Defining a function means to teach the computer a new command and explain what it should do when receiving that command.

Define a Function

Call a Function JavaScript

Calling a function actually gives the command, so the computer will run the code for that function.

Call a Function

Indentation JavaScript

Indentation is the visual structure of how your code is laid out. It uses tabs to organize code into a hierarchy.

Indentation

Curly Bracket General

An open curly bracket is { and a close curly bracket is }

Curly Bracket

Parentheses General

( and )

Parentheses

Function body JavaScript

The part of a function that contains the commands

function body

Function JavaScript

A function is a way to teach Karel a new word.

Function

Programming Style General

The way your code is written is the style. It covers the aspects of the code that goes beyond whether or not it just works.

Programming Style

Start Function JavaScript

This is the function that is called when you click run.

Start Function

Break Down (Decompose) JavaScript

Breaking down (decomposing) your code is splitting it into more functions.

Break Down (Decompose)

Decomposition General

Decomposition is breaking your program into smaller parts.

Decomposition

Top Down Design JavaScript

Top down design is a method for breaking our program down into smaller parts.

Top Down Design

Algorithm General

An algorithm is a set of steps or rules to follow to solve a particular problem.

algorithm, process

Comment JavaScript

A message in your code that explains what is going on.

Comment

Precondition JavaScript

Assumptions we make about what must be true before the function is called.

Precondition

Postcondition JavaScript

What should be true after the function is called

Postcondition

SuperKarel General

SuperKarel is like Karel but already knows how to turnRight() and turnAround()

SuperKarel

API General

An API (application programming interface) is a set of tools for building programs.

Loop General

A loop is a way to repeat code in your program.

Loop

For Loop JavaScript

A for loop lets us repeat code a **fixed number of times**.

For Loop

Condition General

A condition is code that you put inside an if statement or while-loop.

Condition

Control Structure General

A control structure lets us change the flow of the code.

Control Structure loops if statements

Iterate General

A single run through the instructions contained a loop

Iterate

Boolean JavaScript

A boolean is a true or false value.

Boolean

If Statement General

An if statement lets you ask a question to the program and only run code if the answer is true.

If Statement

If Else Statement General

Control structure that lets us run either one section of code or another depending on a test.

If Else Statement

While Loop General

Lets us repeat code as long as something is true.

While Loop

Fencepost Problem General

A problem when using a while loop where you forget one action at the beginning or the end.

Fencepost Problem

Sequencing General

Sequencing, or sequential execution, is step by step execution of instructions in the order they are given.

Iteration General

Repetition of instructions a specified number of times, or until a condition is met.

Selection General

Using a condition to determine which part of an algorithm is executed.

Parameter JavaScript

A variable passed in from outside the function

parameter

Ultra Karel JavaScript

Ultra Karel is the same as Super Karel, except Ultra Karel has the ability to paint the grid world!

Internet General

A philosophy of making information and knowledge open and accessible to all people. A network of networks built on open, agreed upon protocols.

Protocol General

A widely agreed upon set of rules that standardize communication between machines.

Data General

Information (numbers, words, measurements, observations, etc) that is in a computer-readable form.

Digital Information General

Digital information generally comprises data that is created by, or prepared for, electronic systems and devices such as computers, screens, calculators, communication devices and so on, and can be stored on those devices or in the Cloud

Encode General

The process of converting information or data into a specific format that can be understood or processed by a computer.

Binary General

The binary number system is the Base 2 Number System. It is a number system that only uses 2 digits (0 and 1).

Bit General

Bit means "binary digit". A bit is a single digit in a binary number. A bit can either be 0 or 1.

ASCII General

ASCII is the standard protocol for encoding text information as bits. The ASCII table assigns a unique binary number to every text character.

Pixel General

Images are made up of pixels, which are essentially a grid of values. Each value, or pixel, encodes the color at that position in the image.

Hexadecimal General

The hexadecimal number system is the Base 16 number system. It is a number system that only uses 16 digits (0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F)

RGB Color Encoding General

The RGB encoding scheme allows us to encode colors as numeric data. It defines the amount of Red, Green, and Blue light in a pixel. Each color channel can have a value between 0 and 255.

Image filter General

A procedure that applies a particular function to an image's pixels to change its appearance

Number System General

A number system defines how we represent numbers. It defines which digits we can use, and what value each position (place value) in a number has.

Decimal Number System General

The number system we use in out everyday lives. It has 10 digits, 0-9.

Binary Number System General

Number system that has 2 digits, 0 and 1. This is how computers represent numbers at the base level.

Hexadecimal Number System General

Number system that has 16 digits 1 - 9 and A - F.

Hello World General

Traditionally the very first program you write when learning a programming language, a program that prints "Hello world" to the user.

println JavaScript

JavaScript function that prints out a line to the user

Declare a Variable JavaScript

Declaring a variable is defining it for the first time.

Declare a Variable

Variable General

A symbol or container that holds a value.

variable

Integer JavaScript

A whole number (not a fraction)

integer

String JavaScript

A sequence of characters

string

Initialize a Variable JavaScript

Initializing a variable is giving it an initial value.

Float JavaScript

A float, or floating point value, is a numeric value that can have decimal level precision (ex: 3.14)

readLine JavaScript

Allows for the reading of user input when a string is used

readLine

readInt JavaScript

Allows for the reading of user input when an integer is used

readInt

readFloat JavaScript

Allows for the reading of user input when a float number is used

readFloat

User Input General

Data provided by the user to a program via input commands.

Increment General

To add to or increase

Increment

Decrement General

To subtract from or decrease

decrement

constant General

An identifier that stores data or information and cannot be changed.

Arithmetic Operators General

Arithmetic operators include + addition, - subtraction, * multiplication, / division, and % modulus. These operators are used to perform basic mathematical tasks.

Randomize JavaScript

To generate or select a random object

random, randomizer

Pseudorandom JavaScript

Not actually random, but appears to be random

Network General

A group of two or more computer systems linked together.

Fiber Optic Cables General

Able to send bits from router to router across long distances, but they are very expensive.

Bitrate General

The amount of data (in bits) that can be sent in a fixed amount of time.

Bandwidth General

The capacity of data transfer in a system. Measured by bitrate.

Latency General

The latency of a system is the time it takes for a bit to travel from sender to receiver. Fiber optic cables have low latency.

Internet Protocol (IP) General

A protocol that defines the structure of an Internet address and assigns a unique address to every device on the Internet.

IPv6 General

A new 128 bit version of the Internet Protocol.

IPv4 General

The original IP protocol that was created in the 1980s.

Domain Name System (DNS) General

Used to translate domain names into IP addresses.

Routing General

The process of sending data between two computers on the internet. The data is sent through routers that determine the route.

Redundancy General

When multiple paths exist between two points. This improves reliability and makes the internet fault tolerable. Makes the routing system scalable.

Packets General

Packets are the units of data that are sent over the network.

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) General

Allows for sending MULTIPLE packets between two computers. TCP checks that all packets arrived and can be put back in the proper order. The metadata must include a destination IP address, a from IP address, the message size and the packet order number.

HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) General

Protocol that standardizes the language for talking to web servers to send and receive web resources. Defines how computers send and receive hypertext information. (HTTPS: The ā€œSā€ denotes a secure connection using HTTP.)

IP Address General

The unique address that is assigned to each device connected to the internet. It is part of the Internet Protocol.

HTTP General

HyperText Transfer Protocol is a protocol that standardizes the language for talking to web servers to send and receive web pages, or HyperText information (HTML pages).

HTML HTML

Hypertext Markup Language

HTML

Web page General

A document that can be viewed by a web browser, usually written in HTML

HTML Tag HTML

Tags are the building blocks of an HTML document

Tag

Tree HTML

The structure of an HTML document

HTML Formatting HTML

HTML provides several tags for formatting text on web pages.

HTML Headings HTML

HTML headings are titles or subtitles that you want to display on a webpage. HTML headings are defined with the `<h1>` to `<h6>` tags. `<h1>` defines the most important heading. `<h6>` defines the least important heading.

<p> Tag HTML

The `<p>` tag defines a paragraph. Browsers automatically add a single blank line before and after each `<p>` element.

<i> Tag HTML

The `<i>` tag defines a part of text in an alternate voice or mood. The content inside is typically displayed in italic.

<b> Tag HTML

The `<b>` tag specifies bold text without any extra importance.

<a> Tag HTML

Allows putting links on a web page. It uses the href attribute to specify what the link should point to.

<img> Tag HTML

Allows adding an image to a web page. It is self-closing. The attributes of an `<img>` tag include `src`, which specifies where to get the image from (the url for an image ), and `width` and `height` attributes, which specify the size of the image in pixels.

HTML Attributes HTML

Tags can have attributes that tell us more information about the tag.

HTML Lists HTML

Way to organize information with a simple structure that is easy to read and write on a webpage. There are ordered and unordered HTML lists.

<ul> Tag HTML

Defines an unordered list in HTML.

<li> Tag HTML

defines a list item inside an HMTL list.

<ol> Tag HTML

The <ol> tag defines an ordered list. An ordered list can be numerical or alphabetical.

HTML Tables HTML

Tables display information in a grid.

<table> Tag HTML

Creates a container for the table data

<tr> tag JavaScript

Creates a container for a single row in a table

<td> Tag HTML

A single table data element

<th> Tag HTML

A single table header element

CSS CSS

Cascading Style Sheets. The language for designing web pages and adding style.

Selector CSS

Defines which HTML elements a CSS rule applies to.

CSS Rule CSS

A CSS apply specific styling to HTML elements. A CSS rule is made of two components, selector and declaration(s).

CSS Declaration CSS

The property-value pairs in a CSS rule that define the styling for specific HTML elements.

Class Attribute HTML

`class` is an attribute we can add to HTML tags in order to style a specific group of elements.

id Attribute HTML

`id` is an attribute we can add to an HTML tag to style that specific element.

URL General

Stands for Uniform Resource Locator. You are locating a resource that exists somewhere on the internet.

Browser General

A program on your computer that sends requests for webpages and displays them.

HTTP Request General

An HTTP request is made by a client, to a named host, which is located on a server. The aim of the request is to access a resource on the server.

Developer Tools General

Browser tools that help programmers diagnose problems, build and maintain secure websites.

<script> Tag HTML

Used to incorporate JavaScript into HTML files

Internship General

A temporary job or position with a company or organization that allows you to gain practical skills and knowledge in a particular field.

Resume General

A document that lists your experiences, skills, and achievements.

Portfolio General

A collection of your best work, such as projects, artwork, or writing samples.

Ethics General

The moral principle that governs a person's behavior.

Legality General

The laws and regulations that govern the use of a resource or activity.

Design Thinking General

Design Thinking is an iterative process in which you seek to understand your users, challenge, assumptions, redefine problems and create innovative solutions which you can prototype and test.

Prototype General

A model designed to demonstrate the most basic functionality or basic design of a product, sometimes used as a proof of concept

Test (Design Thinking) General

A chance to get feedback on your solutions, refine them, and make them better.

Digital Footprint General

The information about a particular person that exists on the Internet as a result of their online activity

Cyberbullying General

the use of electronic communication to bully a person

personally identifiable information General

any data that can be used to identify an individual, such as their name, address, or social security number

Data security General

protecting your data online

https General

secure data transfer protocol when on the internet

Privacy Policy General

Legal document outlining how a company can collect and use your data

Phishing General

The usage of deceptive emails and websites to maliciously gather personal information

Two-Factor Authentication JavaScript

(2FA) A type of multifactor authentication that typically combines something the user knows (like a password) with something the user has (like a mobile phone)

Password Manager General

Tools that store and manage passwords for various accounts, generating strong passwords and auto-filling login credentials.

Information Literacy General

Information literacy is having the ability to find information, evaluate information credibility, and use information effectively.

Copyright General

A law that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use, distribution, and sale

Public domain General

Objects in the public domain are not subject to copyright laws, and thus may be freely used by the general public.