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AP Computer Science Principles Flashcards

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9234935005Agile software developmentAn approach to software development that emphasizes a flexible and ready response to meet a shifting target.0
9234935006BenchmarkingRunning a program on many data sets to be sure its performance falls within required limits; timing the same algorithm on two different machines.1
9234935007Code libraryA collection of thoroughly tested object code for various useful tasks.2
9234935008CodingThe process of translating the detailed designs into computer code.3
9234935009Divide-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
9234935010Empirical testingDesigning a special set of test cases and running the program using these test data.5
9234935011Executable moduleThe resulting object code after a linker inserts requested code from code libraries.6
9234935012External documentationAny materials assembled to clarify the program's design and implementation.7
9234935013Feasibility studyA step in the software development life cycle that evaluates a proposed project and compares the costs and benefits of various solutions.8
9234935014Integrated 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
9234935015Integration 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
9234935016Internal documentationDocumentation that is part of the program code itself.11
9234935017Logic errorAn error in the algorithm used to solve a problem.12
9234935018Object codeMachine language instructions.13
9234935019Pair 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
9234935020Problem 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
9234935021Procedural languageA program written in a procedural language consists of sequences of statements that manipulate data items.16
9234935022Program design phaseA step in the software development life cycle that plans the structure of the software to be written.17
9234935023Program maintenanceThe process of adapting an existing software product due to errors, new system requirements, or changing user needs.18
9234935024Program 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
9234935025Regression 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
9234935026Runtime 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
9234935027SemanticsThe meaning of correctly written programming statements.22
9234935028Source codeHigh-level language instructions.23
9234935029Syntax errorAn error that occurs because a program statement fails to follow the correct rules of syntax.24
9234935030Technical documentationDocumentation that enables programmers who later have to modify the program to understand the code.25
9234935031Third-generation languageAnother name for high-level programming language as opposed to machine language (first generation) or assembly language (second generation).26
9234935032Top-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
9234935033SyntaxThe rules for exactly how programming statements must be written; the grammatical structure of a programming language28
9234935034Application(Java) A complete standalone program that resides and runs on a self-contained computer.29
9234935035External 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
9234935036Functional 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
9234935037Knowledge baseFacts and rules about a certain domain of interest.32
9234935038Open sourceSoftware whose source code is freely available and may be used, distributed, or modified by anyone.33
9234935039RecursiveSomething that is defined in terms of "smaller versions" of itself.34
9234935040Computational modelA model constructed using algorithmic procedures implemented as computer programs.35
9234935041Computational 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
9234935042Computer graphicsThe field of computer science that examines the technical problems of displaying visual images on a computer screen.37
9234935043Continuous modelA model of a system using mathematical equations that describe system performance as a continuous function of time t.38
9234935044Discrete event simulationA computational modeling technique that simulates the behavior of a system only at discrete points in time.39
9234935045Garbage 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
9234935046Scientific visualizationThe use of images and visualization techniques to make scientific data easier to interpret and understand.41
9234935047Simulation modelAnother term for a computational model.42
9234935048Statistical distributionThis is a mathematical function that describes the probability of a random quantity taking on certain values.43
9234935049Stochastic componentsParts of a model that display random behavior.44
9234935050Uniform random numberEvery value in the range from a to b has the same chance of occurring.45
9234935051AnalogyArguing 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
9234935052ConsequentialismA school of thought in ethics that focuses on the consequences of an act to determine if the act is good or bad.47
9234935053CyberbullyingHumiliating, taunting, threatening or invading someone's privacy using the Internet, Web, or other type of electronic technology.48
9234935054EthicsThe study of how to decide if something is morally right or wrong.49
9234935055HacktivismHacking that is intended as political activism.50
9234935056Peer-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
9234935057Computer scienceThe study of algorithms, including their mathematical properties, hardware and linguistic realizations, and their applications.52
9234935058Computing agentThe entity (machine, robot, person, or thing) that executes the steps of an algorithm.53
9234935059High-level programming languageA programming language that uses both natural language constructs and mathematical notation.54
9234935060Infinite loopThe repetitive execution of a block of operations that will never end. This is a fatal error when it occurs in an algorithm.55
9234935061Sequential operationAn algorithmic operation that carries out a single task and then moves on to the next operation in sequence.56
9234935062Algorithm 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
9234935063ComputationAn algorithmic operation that carries out a single numeric computation and stores the result.58
9234935064Conditional statementsOperations that ask a question and select the next instruction to carry out based on the answer to that question.59
9234935065Continuation conditionThe true/false condition that will determine when the iteration has been completed.60
9234935066Control operationsOperations that alter the normal sequential flow of control within an algorithm.61
9234935067InputAn operation that causes data values from the outside world to be brought into the algorithm.62
9234935068IterationThe repetitive execution of a block of operations.63
9234935069OutputAn operation that causes computed values to be sent to the outside world for viewing or saving.64
9234935070Primitive 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
9234935071PseudocodeA 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
9234935072SortingThe task of putting a list of values into numeric or alphabetical order.67
9234935073Boolean expressionAn expression that can evaluate only to true or false.68
9234935074GigabyteOne billion bytes.69
9234935075Programan algorithm that is written in a programming language that runs on a computer70
9234935076Control 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
9234935077Computational 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
9234935078Event 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
9234935079Hardwarethe large and small physical components that make up a computers such as the computer's keyboard or its processor.74
9234935080Softwarethe computer programs that make up a computer system such as the mobile apps we will be creating in this course.75
9234935081Abstractionone 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
9234935082Binary Numbera number written in the binary system, a system that uses only two digits, 0s and 1s.77
9234935083Blacklistin internet terminology, a generic term for a list of email addresses or IP addresses that are origination with known spammers78
9234935084Characterany symbol that requires one byte of storage79
9234935085Cyberspacea metaphor for describing the non-physical terrain created by computer systems80
9234935086Datadata 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
9234935087Data 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
9234935088Data Networka telecommunications network which allows computers to exchange data83
9234935089Disk Drivea randomly addressable and rewritable storage device84
9234935090Intellectual Propertyrefers to any property that is created using original thought. Traditional intellectual property include patents, copyrights, and trademarks.85
9234935091Networka group of two or more computer systems linked together86
9234935092Processorshort for microprocessor or CPU87
9234935093Social 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
9234935094Whitelista generic name for a list of email address or IP addresses that are considered to be spam free89
9234935095Analoga device or system that represents changing values as continuously variable physical quantities90
9234935096ASCIIa code for representing English characters as numbers, with each letter assigned a number from 0 to 12791
9234935097Cloud Computingcomparable to grid computing, cloud computing relies on sharing resources rather than having local servers handle applications.92
9234935098Cryptographythe art of protecting information by transforming it into an unreadable format, called cipher text93
9234935099Digitalany 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
9234935100Digital Signal Processing(DSP) refers to manipulating analog information95
9234935101Downloadto copy data (usually an entire file) from a main source to a peripheral device96
9234935102Megabyteused to describe data storage, 1,048,576 bytes (abbreviated MB)97
9234935103Megapixelone million pixels, used in reference to the resolution of a graphics device98
9234935104Modelingprocess of representing a real-world object of phenomenon as a set of mathematical equations.99
9234935105OCRoptical 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
9234935106Rasterthe rectangular area of a display screen actually being used to display images101
9234935107Renderrefers 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
9234935108Spamspam is electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings103
9234935109Steganographythe art and science of hiding information by embedding messages within other, seemingly harmless messages104
9234935110Uploadto transmit data from a computer to a bulletin board service, mainframe, or network.105
9234935111BitSingle unit of information on a computer represent as a 0 or 1106
9234935112Bit RateThe number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time107
9234935113LatencyThe time it takes for a signal to arrive108
9234935114BandwidthTransmission capacity, measured by bit rate109
9234935115FiberopticsMethod of transmitting data that utilizes light110
9234935116Copper WireMethod of transmitting data that utilizes electricity111
9234935117WiFiA wireless networking technology that utilizes radio waves to transmit information/data112
9234935118PrototypeA 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
9234935119IP AddressA number assigned to any item that is connected to the Internet.114
9234935120PacketsSmall chunks of information that have been carefully formed from larger chunks of information.115
9234935121RouterA 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
9234935122Transmission 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
9234935123Domain Name System (DNS)An abbreviation for Domain Name System, the Internet's system for converting alphabetic names into numeric IP addresses.118
9234935124Hypertext 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
9234935125ServerA computer that awaits and responds to requests for data.120
9234935126ClientA computer that requests data stored on a server.121
9234935127Net 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
9234935128Internet 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
9234935129NodeVertex; Represented by a labeled circle124
9234935130EdgeA line connecting two nodes125
9234935131CostWeight; The number associated with an edge that indicates distance, time, or estimated cost126
9234935132CycleA set of edges that begin at one node and can be followed through other nodes back where you started127
9234935133EfficiencyA measure of the number of steps per input size needed to complete an algorithm128
9234935134Routing TableA data table stored in a router that lists the routes to particular network destinations129
9234935135Minimum 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
9234935136Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)A group of volunteers, private citizens, government officials, etc. who promote internet standards131
9234935137AlgorithmA precise sequence of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer132
9234935138FunctionA piece of code that you can easily call over and over again.133
9234935139APIa collection of commands made available to a programmer134
9234935140Documentationa description of the behavior of a command, function, library, API, etc.135
9234935141ParameterAn extra piece of information that you pass to the function to customize it for a specific need136
9234935142For 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
9234935143LoopThe action of doing something over and over again.138
9234935144Bytetechnical term for 8 bits of data139
9234935145Kilobyte (KB)1000 bytes140
9234935146Megabyte (MB)1,000 kilobytes141
9234935147Terabyte (TB)1,000 gigabytes142
9234935148Petabyte (PB)1,000 terabytes143
9234935149.bmp(bitmap image file or bitmap) is a raster graphics image file format used to store digital images.144
9234935150.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
9234935151.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
9234935152.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
9234935153.wav(Waveform Audio File Format) an audio coding format standard for storing an audio bitstream of uncompressed audio data.148
9234935154.txta computer format that is structured as a sequence of lines of electronic text.149
9234935155.zipan archive file format that supports lossless data compression; may contain one or more files or directories.150
9234935156.png(Portable Network Graphics) a raster graphics file format that supports lossless data compression.151
9234935157Heuristica problem solving approach (algorithm) to find a satisfactory solution where finding an optimal or exact solution is impractical or impossible.152
9234935158ImageA type of data used for graphics or pictures.153
9234935159MetadataData 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
9234935160PixelShort 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
9234935161Hexadecimal Number SystemA number system consisting of 16 distinct symbols — 0-9 and A-F — which can occur in each place value.156
9234935162LosslessA compression scheme in which every bit of the original data can be recovered from the compressed file.157
9234935163LossyA 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
9234935164RGBthe 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
9234935165File extensionsthe endings of file names that indicate to the computer the format for how the underlying bits are organized.160
9234935166Computationally 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
9234935167InnovationA novel or improved idea, device, product, etc. or the development thereof162
9234935168Moore's Lawthe observation that computing power roughly doubles every two years.163
9234935169Big Dataa broad term for datasets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate.164
9234935170Cipherthe generic term for a technique (or algorithm) that performs encryption165
9234935171Cracking encryptionWhen you attempt to decode a secret message without knowing all the specifics of the cipher.166
9234935172Decryptiona process that reverses encryption, taking a secret message and reproducing the original plain text167
9234935173Encryptiona process of encoding messages to keep them secret, so only "authorized" parties can read it.168
9234935174Asymmetric encryptionused in public key encryption, it is scheme in which the key to encrypt data is different from the key to decrypt.169
9234935175Public 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
9234935176Digital Dividethe gulf between those who have ready access to computers and the Internet, and those who do not.171
9234935177HypothesisA proposed explanation for some phenomenon used as the basis for further investigation.172
9234935178Search TrendsComparison of the popularity of topical queries in an online search engine as they relate to time.173
9234935179VisualizationImages, diagrams, tables, etc created from information extracted from a given data set, with the express intention of highlighting a data story.174
9234935180Pivot TableThe name of the tool used by most spreadsheet programs to create a summary table.175
9234935181READMEA document providing background information about a dataset.176
9234935182CSVAbbreviation of "comma-separated values," this is a widely-used format for storing data.177
9234935183Raw dataThe original data as it was collected.178
9234935184Summary tableA table of aggregate information about a dataset (e.g., the average, sum, count of some values).179
9234935185Filtertool/technique using dynamic parameters for reducing a data set to viewing only similar items in a row or column.180
9234935186AggregationA 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
9234935187Binary questiona question where there are only two possible answers182
9234935188ProtocolA set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices.183
9234935189ASCIIIThe universally recognized raw text format that any computer can understand184
9234935190American Standard Code for Information InterchangeWhat does ASCII stand for? (cap first letter)185
9234935191code(slang) to write instructions for a computer186
9234935192Redundancyrepetition of information or the inclusion of additional information to reduce errors in transmission.187
9234935193DNSThe service that translates URL's to IP addresses188
9234935194Domain name serviceDNS stands for...189
9234935195HTTPthe protocol used for transmitting web pages over the internet190
9234935196Hypertext transfer protocolHTTP stands for...191
9234935197TCPprovides reliable, ordered and error checked delivery of a stream of packets in the internet192
9234935198URLan easy to remember address for calling a web page193
9234935199OctalThe octal number system is base 8, using only digits 0 through 7.194
9234935200DecimalTraditional number system using digits 0-9.195
9234935201Iterative innovationIncremental or small improvement to an item196
9234935202Novel innovationImprovement that is new, creative and has not been done before "outside the box thinking."197
9234935203Vint CerfInternet pioneer who believed the Internet should be free and available to everyone198
9234935204Higher lower__________ level protocols use _______ levels without needing to understand precisely how they work. (space between each term)199
9234935205Lower higher_________ level protocols guarantee __________ level protocols will function without stating specifically how this will be accomplished.200
9234935206Creative 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
9234935207High 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
9234935208Low 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
9234935209Fault tolerant networkThe ability to route around broken servers on the internet.204
9234935210Global 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
9234935211If StatementThe common programming structure that implements "conditional statements".206
9234935212Local 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
9234935213Callback 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
9234935214EventAn action that causes something to happen.209
9234935215User InterfaceThe visual elements of an program through which a user controls or communications the application. Often abbreviated UI.210
9234935216Data 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
9234935217ExpressionAny valid unit of code that resolves to a value.212
9234935218VariableA placeholder for a piece of information that can change.213
9234935219DebuggingFinding and fixing problems in your algorithm or program.214
9234935220Conditionalsstatements that run under only certain conditions215
9234935221SelectionA 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
9234935222Concatentateto link together or join. Typically used when joining together text Strings in programming (e.g. "Hello, "+name)217

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