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AP Computer Science Principles Flashcards

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6635630331Agile software developmentAn approach to software development that emphasizes a flexible and ready response to meet a shifting target.0
6635630332BenchmarkingRunning a program on many data sets to be sure its performance falls within required limits; timing the same algorithm on two different machines.1
6635630333Code libraryA collection of thoroughly tested object code for various useful tasks.2
6635630334CodingThe process of translating the detailed designs into computer code.3
6635630336Divide-and-conquerA program design strategy in which tasks are broken down into subtasks, which are broken down into sub-subtasks, and so on, until each piece is small enough to code comfortably. These pieces work together to accomplish the total job.4
6635630337Empirical testingDesigning a special set of test cases and running the program using these test data.5
6635630338Executable moduleThe resulting object code after a linker inserts requested code from code libraries.6
6635630339External documentationAny materials assembled to clarify the program's design and implementation.7
6635630340Feasibility studyA step in the software development life cycle that evaluates a proposed project and compares the costs and benefits of various solutions.8
6635630341Integrated development environment (IDE)A collection of programs that support software development, such as debuggers, editors, toolkits, and libraries, that lets programmers perform several tasks within the shell of a single application.9
6635630342Integration testingAfter unit testing, integration testing is done to see that the modules communicate the necessary data between and among themselves and that all modules work together smoothly.10
6635630343Internal documentationDocumentation that is part of the program code itself.11
6635630345Logic errorAn error in the algorithm used to solve a problem.12
6635630346Object codeMachine language instructions.13
6635630347Pair programmingInvolves two programmers at a single workstation. At any given point in time, one is writing code and the other is actively observing, watching for possible errors but also thinking about the overall approach.14
6635630348Problem specificationA step in the software development life cycle that involves developing a clear, concise, and unambiguous statement of the exact problem the software is to solve.15
6635630349Procedural languageA program written in a procedural language consists of sequences of statements that manipulate data items.16
6635630350Program design phaseA step in the software development life cycle that plans the structure of the software to be written.17
6635630351Program maintenanceThe process of adapting an existing software product due to errors, new system requirements, or changing user needs.18
6635630352Program verificationUsed to prove that if the input data to a program satisfies certain conditions, then, after the program has been run on these data, the output data satisfies certain other conditions.19
6635630354Regression testingIf anything is changed on an already-tested module, regression testing is done to be sure that this change has not introduced a new error into code that was previously correct.20
6635630355Runtime errorAn error that occurs when the program is run using certain sets of data that result in some illegal operation, such as dividing by zero.21
6635630356SemanticsThe meaning of correctly written programming statements.22
6635630359Source codeHigh-level language instructions.23
6635630360Syntax errorAn error that occurs because a program statement fails to follow the correct rules of syntax.24
6635630361Technical documentationDocumentation that enables programmers who later have to modify the program to understand the code.25
6635630362Third-generation languageAnother name for high-level programming language as opposed to machine language (first generation) or assembly language (second generation).26
6635630363Top-down decompositionA program design strategy in which tasks are broken down into subtasks, which are broken down into sub-subtasks, and so on, until each piece is small enough to code comfortably. These pieces work together to accomplish the total job.27
6635630364SyntaxThe rules for exactly how programming statements must be written; the grammatical structure of a programming language28
6635630366Application(Java) A complete standalone program that resides and runs on a self-contained computer.29
6635630367External libraryA well-written, efficient, and thoroughly tested code module that is separately compiled and then drawn on by any program that wishes to use its capabilities.30
6635630368Functional programming languagesViews every task in terms of functions. In this context, function means something like a mathematical function—a recipe for taking an argument (or possibly several arguments) and doing something with them to compute a single value.31
6635630369Knowledge baseFacts and rules about a certain domain of interest.32
6635630370Open sourceSoftware whose source code is freely available and may be used, distributed, or modified by anyone.33
6635630371RecursiveSomething that is defined in terms of "smaller versions" of itself.34
6635630372Computational modelA model constructed using algorithmic procedures implemented as computer programs.35
6635630373Computational steeringA procedure for using a computational model to improve the design of an actual system by continually resetting model parameters to improve system performance.36
6635630374Computer graphicsThe field of computer science that examines the technical problems of displaying visual images on a computer screen.37
6635630375Continuous modelA model of a system using mathematical equations that describe system performance as a continuous function of time t.38
6635630376Discrete event simulationA computational modeling technique that simulates the behavior of a system only at discrete points in time.39
6635630378Garbage in, garbage outThe term for the fact that the output coming out of a computer model is only as accurate as the assumption used to build the model.40
6635630380Scientific visualizationThe use of images and visualization techniques to make scientific data easier to interpret and understand.41
6635630381Simulation modelAnother term for a computational model.42
6635630382Statistical distributionThis is a mathematical function that describes the probability of a random quantity taking on certain values.43
6635630383Stochastic componentsParts of a model that display random behavior.44
6635630384Uniform random numberEvery value in the range from a to b has the same chance of occurring.45
6635630385AnalogyArguing about a problem by comparing it to a related problem, which you claim is very similar in terms of its ethical implications and consequences.46
6635630386ConsequentialismA school of thought in ethics that focuses on the consequences of an act to determine if the act is good or bad.47
6635630387CyberbullyingHumiliating, taunting, threatening or invading someone's privacy using the Internet, Web, or other type of electronic technology.48
6635630388EthicsThe study of how to decide if something is morally right or wrong.49
6635630389HacktivismHacking that is intended as political activism.50
6635630390Peer-to-peer file sharingThe sharing of files between two equal participants on a network. This is distinct from the client-server model in which the two sides serve very different roles--one side only sending information (the server) and the other side only receiving information (the client).51
6635630392Computer scienceThe study of algorithms, including their mathematical properties, hardware and linguistic realizations, and their applications.52
6635630393Computing agentThe entity (machine, robot, person, or thing) that executes the steps of an algorithm.53
6635630394High-level programming languageA programming language that uses both natural language constructs and mathematical notation.54
6635630395Infinite loopThe repetitive execution of a block of operations that will never end. This is a fatal error when it occurs in an algorithm.55
6635630397Sequential operationAn algorithmic operation that carries out a single task and then moves on to the next operation in sequence.56
6635630409Algorithm discoveryThe process of finding an algorithmic solution to a given problem. Computation: An algorithmic operation that carries out a single numeric computation and stores the result.57
6635630410ComputationAn algorithmic operation that carries out a single numeric computation and stores the result.58
6635630411Conditional statementsOperations that ask a question and select the next instruction to carry out based on the answer to that question.59
6635630412Continuation conditionThe true/false condition that will determine when the iteration has been completed.60
6635630413Control operationsOperations that alter the normal sequential flow of control within an algorithm.61
6635630414InputAn operation that causes data values from the outside world to be brought into the algorithm.62
6635630415IterationThe repetitive execution of a block of operations.63
6635630418OutputAn operation that causes computed values to be sent to the outside world for viewing or saving.64
6635630419Primitive operationAn operation that can be directly understood by the computing agent executing the algorithm and which does not have to be further clarified or explained.65
6635630420PseudocodeA notation used to design algorithms. It uses English constructs, mathematical notation and an informal algorithmic structure designed to look like a high-level programming language.66
6635630424SortingThe task of putting a list of values into numeric or alphabetical order.67
6635630427Boolean expressionAn expression that can evaluate only to true or false.68
6635630429GigabyteOne billion bytes.69
6635630433Programan algorithm that is written in a programming language that runs on a computer70
6635630434Control Structuresa block of programming that determines which part of the program is executed next. There are three types of structures: sequence, selection, and repetition.71
6635630435Computational Artifactan object created by a human being that involves the use of computation in some way, for example a mobile app or a web page.72
6635630436Event Driven Programminga programming approach whereby the program's behavior is controlled by writing code that responds to various events that occur, such as Button clicks.73
6635630437Hardwarethe large and small physical components that make up a computers such as the computer's keyboard or its processor.74
6635630438Softwarethe computer programs that make up a computer system such as the mobile apps we will be creating in this course.75
6635630439Abstractionone of the seven big ideas of the CS Principles curriculum. An abstraction is a simplified and general representation of some complex object or process. One example --we'll encounter many in this course, including abstractions used in computer programming -- would be a Google map.76
6635630440Binary Numbera number written in the binary system, a system that uses only two digits, 0s and 1s.77
6635630442Blacklistin internet terminology, a generic term for a list of email addresses or IP addresses that are origination with known spammers78
6635630443Characterany symbol that requires one byte of storage79
6635630444Cyberspacea metaphor for describing the non-physical terrain created by computer systems80
6635630445Datadata is distinct information that is formatted in a special way. Data exists in a variety of forms, like text on paper or bytes stored in electronic memory81
6635630446Data Centerare physical or virtual infrastructures used by enterprises to house computer, server and networking systems and components for the company's IT (information technology) needs82
6635630447Data Networka telecommunications network which allows computers to exchange data83
6635630448Disk Drivea randomly addressable and rewritable storage device84
6635630449Intellectual Propertyrefers to any property that is created using original thought. Traditional intellectual property include patents, copyrights, and trademarks.85
6635630451Networka group of two or more computer systems linked together86
6635630452Processorshort for microprocessor or CPU87
6635630453Social Networkinga social structure made of nodes that are generally individuals or organizations. A social network represents relationships and flows between people, groups, organizations, animals, computers, or other information/knowledge processing entities88
6635630454Whitelista generic name for a list of email address or IP addresses that are considered to be spam free89
6635630455Analoga device or system that represents changing values as continuously variable physical quantities90
6635630456ASCIIa code for representing English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 12791
6635630457Cloud Computingcomparable to grid computing, cloud computing relies on sharing resources rather than having local servers handle applications.92
6635630458Cryptographythe art of protecting information by transforming it into an unreadable format, called cipher text93
6635630459Digitalany system based on discontinuous data or events. Computers are digital machines because at the basic level they can distinguish between just two values, 0 and 1.94
6635630460Digital Signal Processing(DSP) refers to manipulating analog information95
6635630461Downloadto copy data (usually an entire file) from a main source to a peripheral device96
6635630464Megabyteused to describe data storage, 1,048,576 bytes (abbreviated MB)97
6635630465Megapixelone million pixels, used in reference to the resolution of a graphics device98
6635630466Modelingprocess of representing a real-world object of phenomenon as a set of mathematical equations.99
6635630467OCRoptical character recognition, the branch of computer science that involves reading text from paper and translating the images into a form that the computer can manipulate100
6635630469Rasterthe rectangular area of a display screen actually being used to display images101
6635630470Renderrefers to the process of adding realism to a computer graphics by adding 3-D qualities, such as shadows and variations in color and shade.102
6635630471Spamspam is electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings103
6635630472Steganographythe art and science of hiding information by embedding messages within other, seemingly harmless messages104
6635630473Uploadto transmit data from a computer to a bulletin board service, mainframe, or network.105
6635630475BitSingle unit of information on a computer represent as a 0 or 1106
6635630477Bit RateThe number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time107
6635630480LatencyThe time it takes for a signal to arrive108
6635630481BandwidthTransmission capacity, measured by bit rate109
6635630483FiberopticsMethod of transmitting data that utilizes light110
6635630484Copper WireMethod of transmitting data that utilizes electricity111
6635630485WiFiA wireless networking technology that utilizes radio waves to transmit information/data112
6635630487PrototypeA preliminary sketch of an idea or model for something new. It's the original drawing from which something real might be built or created.113
6635630488IP AddressA number assigned to any item that is connected to the Internet.114
6635630489PacketsSmall chunks of information that have been carefully formed from larger chunks of information.115
6635630490RouterA computer which receives messages travelling across a network and redirects them towards their intended destinations based on the addressing information included with the message.116
6635630491Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)Provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of a stream of packets on the internet. TCP is tightly linked with IP and usually seen as TCP/IP in writing.117
6635630492Domain Name System (DNS)An abbreviation for Domain Name System, the Internet's system for converting alphabetic names into numeric IP addresses.118
6635630493Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)The protocol used by the World Wide Web. It describes how messages are formatted and interchanged, and how web servers respond to commands.119
6635630495ServerA computer that awaits and responds to requests for data.120
6635630496ClientA computer that requests data stored on a server.121
6635630497Net NeutralityThe principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites.122
6635630498Internet CensorshipThe control or suppression of what can be accessed, published, or viewed on the Internet. It may be carried out by governments or by private organizations at the behest of government, regulators, or on their own initiative.123
6635630499NodeVertex; Represented by a labeled circle124
6635630500EdgeA line connecting two nodes125
6635630501CostWeight; The number associated with an edge that indicates distance, time, or estimated cost126
6635630502CycleA set of edges that begin at one node and can be followed through other nodes back where you started127
6635630505EfficiencyA measure of the number of steps per input size needed to complete an algorithm128
6635630506Routing TableA data table stored in a router that lists the routes to particular network destinations129
6635630507Minimum Spanning TreeDictates the shortest aggregate path from one node to every node A spanning tree connecting all nodes together with the minimum aggregate value of its edges.130
6635630509Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)A group of volunteers, private citizens, government officials, etc. who promote internet standards131
6635630511AlgorithmA precise sequence of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer132
6635630513FunctionA piece of code that you can easily call over and over again.133
6635630514APIa collection of commands made available to a programmer134
6635630515Documentationa description of the behavior of a command, function, library, API, etc.135
6635630517ParameterAn extra piece of information that you pass to the function to customize it for a specific need136
6635630518For LoopA particular kind of looping construct provided in many languages. Typically, a for loop defines a counting variable that is checked and incremented on each iteration in order to loop a specific number of times.137
6635630519LoopThe action of doing something over and over again.138
6635630520Bytetechnical term for 8 bits of data139
6635630521Kilobyte (KB)1000 bytes140
6635630522Megabyte (MB)1,000 kilobytes141
6635630524Terabyte (TB)1,000 gigabytes142
6635630525Petabyte (PB)1,000 terabytes143
6635630526.bmp(bitmap image file or bitmap) is a raster graphics image file format used to store digital images.144
6635630527.gif(acronym for Graphics Interchange Format) a bitmap image format which uses the LZW lossless data compression technique to reduce the file size without degrading the visual quality. Supports 8 bits per pixel for each image and animations.145
6635630528.jpg or .jpeg(acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group), a commonly used lossy compression format for digital images, particularly for those images produced by digital photography. The format supports adjustable degrees of compression.146
6635630529.mp3an audio coding format for digital audio which uses a form of lossy data compression which works by reducing (or approximating) certain components of the audio that are considered to be beyond audible human hearing.147
6635630530.wav(Waveform Audio File Format) an audio coding format standard for storing an audio bitstream of uncompressed audio data.148
6635630531.txta computer format that is structured as a sequence of lines of electronic text.149
6635630532.zipan archive file format that supports lossless data compression; may contain one or more files or directories.150
6635630533.png(Portable Network Graphics) a raster graphics file format that supports lossless data compression.151
6635630534Heuristica problem solving approach (algorithm) to find a satisfactory solution where finding an optimal or exact solution is impractical or impossible.152
6635630535ImageA type of data used for graphics or pictures.153
6635630536MetadataData that describes other data. For example, a digital image my include metadata that describe the size of the image, number of colors, or resolution.154
6635630537PixelShort for "picture element" it is the fundamental unit of a digital image, typically a tiny square or dot which contains a single point of color of a larger image.155
6635630538Hexadecimal Number SystemA number system consisting of 16 distinct symbols — 0-9 and A-F — which can occur in each place value.156
6635630539LosslessA compression scheme in which every bit of the original data can be recovered from the compressed file.157
6635630540LossyA compression scheme in which "useless" or less-than-totally-necessary information is thrown out in order to reduce the size of the data. The eliminated data is unrecoverable.158
6635630541RGBthe color model that uses varying intensities of (R)ed, (G)reen, and (B)lue light added together in order to reproduce a broad array of colors.159
6635630543File extensionsthe endings of file names that indicate to the computer the format for how the underlying bits are organized.160
6635630544Computationally Hard ProblemA problem that can not be solved in a reasonable amount of time. Heuristics are often used to create an approximate or good enough solution.161
6635630550InnovationA novel or improved idea, device, product, etc. or the development thereof162
6635630552Moore's Lawthe observation that computing power roughly doubles every two years.163
6635630553Big Dataa broad term for datasets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate.164
6635630555Cipherthe generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption165
6635630556Cracking encryptionWhen you attempt to decode a secret message without knowing all the specifics of the cipher.166
6635630557Decryptiona process that reverses encryption, taking a secret message and reproducing the original plain text167
6635630558Encryptiona process of encoding messages to keep them secret, so only "authorized" parties can read it.168
6635630561Asymmetric encryptionused in public key encryption, it is scheme in which the key to encrypt data is different from the key to decrypt.169
6635630563Public Key EncryptionUsed prevalently on the web, it allows for secure messages to be sent between parties without having to agree on, or share, a secret key. It uses an asymmetric encryption scheme in which the encryption key is made public, but the decryption key is kept private.170
6635630564Digital Dividethe gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not.171
6635630565HypothesisA proposed explanation for some phenomenon used as the basis for further investigation.172
6635630566Search TrendsComparison of the popularity of topical queries in an online search engine as they relate to time.173
6635630567VisualizationImages, diagrams, tables, etc created from information extracted from a given data set, with the express intention of highlighting a data story.174
6635630568Pivot TableThe name of the tool used by most spreadsheet programs to create a summary table.175
6635630569READMEA document providing background information about a dataset.176
6635630570CSVAbbreviation of "comma-separated values," this is a widely-used format for storing data.177
6635630571Raw dataThe original data as it was collected.178
6635630572Summary tableA table of aggregate information about a dataset (e.g., the average, sum, count of some values).179
6635630573Filtertool/technique using dynamic parameters for reducing a data set to viewing only similar items in a row or column.180
6635630574AggregationA computation in which rows from a data set are grouped together and used to compute a single value of more significant meaning or measurement. Common aggregations include: Average, Count, Sum, Max, Median, etc.181
6635630579Binary questiona question where there are only two possible answers182
6635630582ProtocolA set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices.183
6635630583ASCIIIThe universally recognized raw text format that any computer can understand184
6635630584American Standard Code for Information InterchangeWhat does ASCII stand for? (cap first letter)185
6635630585code(slang) to write instructions for a computer186
6635630588Redundancyrepetition of information or the inclusion of additional information to reduce errors in transmission.187
6635630589DNSThe service that translates URL's to IP addresses188
6635630590Domain name serviceDNS stands for...189
6635630592HTTPthe protocol used for transmitting web pages over the internet190
6635630593Hypertext transfer protocolHTTP stands for...191
6635630594TCPprovides reliable, ordered and error checked delivery of a stream of packets in the internet192
6635630596URLan easy to remember address for calling a web page193
6635630600OctalThe octal number system is base 8, using only digits 0 through 7.194
6635630601DecimalTraditional number system using digits 0-9.195
6635630602Iterative innovationIncremental or small improvement to an item196
6635630603Novel innovationImprovement that is new, creative and has not been done before "outside the box thinking."197
6635630605Vint CerfInternet pioneer who believed the Internet should be free and available to everyone198
6635630606Higher lower__________ level protocols use _______ levels without needing to understand precisely how they work. (space between each term)199
6635630607Lower higher_________ level protocols guarantee __________ level protocols will function without stating specifically how this will be accomplished.200
6635630608Creative Commonsone of several public copyright licenses that enable the free distribution of an otherwise copyrighted work. A CC license is used when an author wants to give people the right to share, use, and build upon a work that they have created.201
6635630609High Level Programming LanguageA programming language that enables a programmer to write programs that are more or less independent of a particular type of computer. Such languages are considered high-level because they are closer to human languages and further from machine languages. Examples: JavaScript, Java, FORTRAN202
6635630610Low Level Programming LanguageA programming language that provides little or no abstraction from a computer's instruction set architecture—commands or functions in the language map closely to processor instructions. Generally this refers to either machine code or assembly language.203
6635630611Fault tolerant networkThe ability to route around broken servers on the internet.204
6635630614Global VariableA variable whose scope is "global" to the program, it can be used and updated by any part of the code. Its global scope is typically derived from the variable being declared (created) outside of any function, object, or method.205
6635630615If StatementThe common programming structure that implements "conditional statements".206
6635630616Local VariableA variable with local scope is one that can only be seen, used and updated by code within the same scope. Typically this means the variable was declared (created) inside a function; includes function parameter variables.207
6635630618Callback functiona function specified as part of an event listener; it is written by the programmer but called by the system as the result of an event trigger.208
6635630619EventAn action that causes something to happen.209
6635630621User InterfaceThe visual elements of an program through which a user controls or communications the application. Often abbreviated UI.210
6635630622Data Type(ex: Number, Boolean, or String) a value's property that dictates how the computer will interpret it. For example 7+5 is interpreted differently from "7"+"5"211
6635630623ExpressionAny valid unit of code that resolves to a value.212
6635630624VariableA placeholder for a piece of information that can change.213
6635630625DebuggingFinding and fixing problems in your algorithm or program.214
6635630626Conditionalsstatements that run under only certain conditions215
6635630627SelectionA generic term for a type of programming statement (usually an if-statement) that uses a Boolean condition to determine, or select, whether or not to run a certain block of statements.216
6635630633Concatentateto link together or join. Typically used when joining together text Strings in programming (e.g. "Hello, "+name)217

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