Starting out with Python Ch01 Flashcards
Cementing the basic concepts of computing & computer programs
What is a program?
A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task.
What is hardware?
The physical parts of a computer system.
List the five major components of a computer system.
CPU, main memory (RAM), secondary storage devices, input devices, output devices.
What part of the computer actually runs programs?
The CPU (Central Processing Unit).
What part of the computer serves as a work area to store a program and its data while the program is running?
The main memory (RAM).
What part of the computer holds data for long periods of time, even when there is no power to the computer?
The secondary storage (like a hard drive or SSD).
What part of the computer collects data from people and from other devices?
Input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, scanner).
What part of the computer formats and presents data for people or other devices?
Output devices (e.g., monitor, printer).
What fundamental set of programs control the internal operations of the computer’s hardware?
The operating system.
What do you call a program that performs a specialized task, such as a virus scanner, a file compression program, or a data backup program?
Utility software.
Word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, email programs, web browsers, and game programs belong to what category of software?
Application software.
What amount of memory is enough to store a letter of the alphabet or a small number?
A byte.
What do you call a tiny “switch” that can be set to either on or off?
A bit.
In what numbering system are all numeric values written as sequences of 0s and 1s?
The binary numbering system.
What is the purpose of ASCII?
To encode characters as numbers that computers can understand.
What encoding scheme is extensive enough to represent the characters of many of the languages in the world?
Unicode.
What do the terms “digital data” and “digital device” mean?
Digital data refers to information stored and processed in binary format. A digital device is any device that works with digital data.
A CPU understands instructions that are written only in what language?
Machine language.
A program has to be copied into what type of memory each time the CPU executes it?
Main memory (RAM).
When a CPU executes the instructions in a program, it is engaged in what process?
Execution.
What is assembly language?
A low-level programming language that uses symbolic code to represent machine code.
What type of programming language allows you to create powerful and complex programs without knowing how the CPU works?
High-level programming language.
Each language has a set of rules that must be strictly followed when writing a program. What is this set of rules called?
Syntax.
What do you call a program that translates a high-level language program into a separate machine language program?
A compiler.
What do you call a program that both translates and executes the instructions in a high-level language program?
An interpreter.
What type of mistake is usually caused by a misspelled key word, a missing punctuation character, or the incorrect use of an operator?
A syntax error.
