Practice Activity - Ch. 1 Vocabulary (Week 2) Flashcards
What is a software? List at least 3 categories/kinds of software.
The programs that run on a computer are called software. The two main categories of software are system software and application software. Subcategories of system software include operating systems, utility programs and software development tools.
What is a hardware? List at least 3 categories/minds of hardware.
The physical devices that make up a computer are called hardware. Every computer needs a central processing unit (CPU) and main memory. Other categories of hardware include secondary storage devices (like hard disc drives, optical drives and USB drives), input devices (keyboard, mouse, etc.) and output devices (monitor, printers, etc.).
What is the difference between a low-level programming language and a high-level programming language? What kind of language is Python?
Low-level programming languages require the programmer to know a lot about how a particular CPU being used works in detail, and require a large number of instructions to be written even for simple programs. High-level programming languages operate at a higher level of abstraction – using them does not depend on a detailed understanding of how the CPU works. Indeed, programs written using English-language-like instructions in high-level language can often be translated (compiled or interpreted) into machine-language for several different CPUs. Python is a high-level programming language.
What is a key word? Give at least one example.
A key word (or reserved word) is a word that already has a fixed meaning in a programming language. Generally, key words cannot be used for any other purpose (such as a variable name or a function name). One example in Python is if.
What is an operator? Give at least one example.
An operator is a word or special symbol that performs operations on data Examples include + and =
Define the word syntax.
The syntax of any language (including programming languages) is the set of rules that must be followed when using the language.
What does the word ‘statement’ mean in computer programming?
A statement is a complete instruction in a computer program. Some statements are very simple; others can be quite complex. In Python, each line in a program normally consists of one statement, although a longer statement may be broken up over two or more lines.
What is a bit? What is a byte?
A bit is a binary digit - the smallest unit of storage. A byte consists of 8 bits.
