Software Development: High Level Programming Language Constructs Flashcards

1
Q

What is a variable?

A

It is the name that a program uses to identify the location that is storing an item of data

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2
Q

What is an integer variable?

A

A variable that stores a positive or negative whole number

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3
Q

What is a real variable?

A

A variable that stores fractional numbers

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4
Q

What is a Boolean variable?

A

A variable that stores only two values, either True or False

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5
Q

What is a character (char) variable?

A

A variable that stores a single character

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6
Q

What is a string variable?

A

A variable that stores a sequence of characters

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7
Q

What is a 1-D array?

A

A One Dimensional Array is used to manipulate a group of data more easily than using independent variable names for each item of data

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8
Q

What 3 things must be specified when declaring an array?

A
  • A name for the array
  • A data type for the array
  • The size of the array
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9
Q

State two characteristics of a 1-D array

A
  • It stores a list of values with the same data type

* It has a fixed number of values

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10
Q

How can using an array be faster that using several variables when creating a program? (2)

A
  • You don’t need to write a line of code to manipulate each data item individually
  • An operation can be performed on each item in the array using a loop
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11
Q

State 2 string operations

A
  • Concatenation

* Substrings

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12
Q

What is ‘Concatenation’?

A

This is when you join string variables together to make longer strings

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13
Q

What are substrings?

A

When you use Left, Right and Mid functions to return part of a string.

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14
Q

Name 2 ways you could format inputs and outputs in VB

A
  • Text Box

* Message Box

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15
Q

State a multiple outcome selection

A

Select CASE

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16
Q

What is a Local variable?

A

A variable that only exists within the subroutine in which it is declared

17
Q

What is a Global variable?

A

A variable that is recognised by all the subroutines in a program, and can be changed by any of these subroutines

18
Q

What is the scope of a local variable?

A

One subroutine

19
Q

What is the scope of a global variable?

A

The entire program

20
Q

State 2 types of subprograms

A
  • Procedures

* Functions

21
Q

What is a Procedure?

A

A subprogram that can return any number of values

22
Q

What is a Function?

A

A subprogram that can only return one value

23
Q

What is a parameter?

A

A parameter is a variable or value that is passed into or out of a subroutine

24
Q

What is an Actual parameter?

A

It is a parameter that is passed into a subroutine when it is called from another part of the program (In the Public Sub bit)

25
What is a Formal parameter?
It is a parameter that is used in a subroutine definition (In the Call bit)
26
What is an In parameter?
It passes the current value of a variable into a subprogram for use
27
What is an Out parameter?
It passes the current value of a variable out of a subprogram for use
28
What is meant by the term "By Reference"?
Passing parameters by reference is used when the value being passed in is to be updated and passed back out again
29
What is meant by the term "By Value"?
Passing parameters by value is used when the value being passed into a subroutine is not to be updated or passed back out again
30
State 2 benefits of using parameter passing rather than global variables when programming
* It makes data flow clearer, so improves maintainability and readability * It reduces impact on the main memory
31
State why data flow should be included in an algorithm
Data flow identifies the data to be used by sub processes
32
Explain why it is more efficient to pass an array by reference than by value? (2)
* Doing this uses up less processor time. | * This is because it does not require making a second copy of an array