Unit 3 Flashcards
What is an algorithm?
A precise sequence of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer and are implemented using programming languages
What is Low Level Programming Language?
A programming language that captures only the primitive operations available to a machine. Anything a computer can do can be represented with combinations of low level commands
What is High Level Programming Language?
Programming languages with many commands and features designed to make common tasks easier to program. Any high level functionality is encapsulated as combinations of low level commands
What is abstraction?
Pulling out specific differences to make one solution work for multiple problems
What is API?
Application Programming Interface, a collection of commands made available to a programmer
What is a library?
Collection of commands/functions typically with a shared purpose
What is documentation?
Description of the behavior of a command, function, or library
What is Iteration?
The repetition of part of an algorithm until a condition is met or for a specified number of times
What is sequencing?
The application of each step of an algorithm in the order in which the statements are given
What is selection?
Uses a Boolean condition (True/False) to determine which of two parts of an algorithm is used
What is a function/method?
A piece of code you can easily call over and over again
What is a parameter?
An extra piece of information that you pass to the function to customize for a specific need
What is a loop?
A programming construct that repeats a group of commands
What is a For Loop?
A looping construct that defines a counting variable that is checked and incremented on each iteration in order to loop a specific number of times
What is ambiguity?
The quality of being open to more than one interception; inexactness
