Glossary

TermModuleStepDefinition
abstraction 4 1 The process of ignoring the details and finding the common ideas.
address 3 1 A location in the storage space (memory) of a computer.
aliasing 9 1 A situation in which two different names are used for the same data.
apply 2 2 To use a function.
array 9 1 A group of data values given in order.
assignment 3 1 Giving a value to a variable or constant.
associative array 12 1 A way of structuring data that uses strings or other data instead of numbers for indices.
attribute 11 1 A slot for an item in an object.
base case 13 2 A case in a recursive function that does not use a recursive call.
black box testing 7 6 Checking the correspondence between possible inputs and correct outputs.
body of the loop 8 1 Steps in a loop after the condition.
Boolean 5 1 A type of data with two possible values.
Boolean expression 5 1 Putting together Boolean values using zero or more function calls.
branch 6 1 To use different actions for different cases.
break 10 7 An early exit from all remaining iterations of a loop.
bug 7 5 An error in code.
call 2 2 To use a function.
call by reference 9 1 The function uses the input data itself.
call by value 9 1 The function uses a copy of the input data.
class 11 1 A type of "bundle'' of values.
code 1 1 Instructions written in a programming language.
code fragment 6 1 A possibly incomplete part of a program or function.
code point 5 3 A number to which Unicode maps a character.
coding 1 1 Writing a program.
comparison 5 1 A function that compares data and returns a Boolean value.
concatenate 2 1 Make a new one by gluing together two.
condition 5 1 A Boolean expression used to make a choice.
constant 3 1 The name used to refer to some data and the address (location) where it is stored; this should not change.
consume 2 1 Used to describe a function taking values as inputs.
continue 10 7 An early exit from the current iteration of a loop.
convention 3 2 A consistent style used to make code more readable to humans.
debug 7 5 The process of removing errors from code.
declaration 3 1 Giving the name of a variable or constant and possibly the type of data.
dictionary 12 5 An associative array in Python.
docstring 2 3 Information (in a string) stored with a function.
dot notation 2 2 Syntax for a function call in which the first input is followed by a period and then the name of the function, with any additional inputs following in parentheses, separated by commas.
element 9 1 A value in a sequence.
empty list 9 2 A list of length zero.
empty string 2 9 The string of length zero.
escape character 2 8 A way to encode a special character.
execute 1 2 To follow instructions.
False 5 1 One of the two possible values of Boolean data.
floating point 1 1 A finite representation of a number, which might be an approximation.
flow of control 4 7 The order in which instructions are executed.
function application 2 2 The use of a function.
function body 4 1 The code that determines the output or side effect of the function.
function call 2 2 The use of a function.
function header 4 1 Specifies the names of the function and parameters (and sometimes the types of the inputs and output).
function invocation 2 2 The use of a function.
global 4 9 Names in the permanent "address book".
helper functions 7 1 Functions designed to complete subtasks.
identifier 3 2 The name that you choose for a variable or another creation.
immutable 9 1 Data that cannot change.
index 9 1 The position of a value in a sequence or string.
index 2 8 The position of a character in a string. More general later.
infinite loop 8 2 A loop that repeats forever.
initialization 3 1 Giving the initial value of a variable or constant.
input 2 1 A value supplied to a function.
integer 1 2 A number that can be written without a fractional part.
interning 9 2 Saving space by storing only one copy of a value.
invoke 2 2 To use a function.
item 9 1 A value in a sequence.
iteration 8 1 Repetition; one iteration is one repetition.
key 12 5 The data used as an index in a dictionary.
length 2 1 The number of characters in a string.
list 9 1 A group of data values given in order.
local 4 9 Names in a temporary "address book".
loop body 8 1 Steps in a loop after the condition.
method 11 1 A function associated with a class.
module 2 1 A group of related functions that can be used on request.
mutable 9 1 Data that can change.
mutation 9 1 The process of changing data.
nested branching 6 6 Branching that takes place inside a branch.
object 11 1 A "bundle'' of values.
operator overloading 2 1 Using the same symbol for different operations on different types of data.
output 2 1 A new value created by a function.
palindrome 10 9 A string that is the same as its reversal.
parameter 4 1 The formal name of an input to a function.
postconditions 7 1 Output type and side effects of a function.
preconditions 7 1 Restrictions on types and values of inputs to a function.
prefix 2 8 A string formed by removing zero or more characters from the end of a string.
produce 2 1 Used to describe a function returning an output.
program 1 1 A list of instructions for a computer.
pseudocode 1 1 A compromise between English and all code.
range 10 2 An immutable sequence of integers in Python.
recursion 13 2 The technique of using recursive calls.
recursive call 13 1 A function call from a function to itself.
recursive case 13 2 A case in a recursive function that uses a recursive call.
recursive function 13 2 A function that uses recursive calls.
reserved keyword 3 2 A word used in the computer language and hence not available for use as an identifer.
return 2 1 Used to describe the process of a function making available a new value as an end product.
run 1 2 To ask a program to follow the instructions.
scientific notation 2 4 A way to represent a number of the form `a` times 10 to the <code>b</code>th power.
semantics 1 1 The meaning of an expression.
sequence 9 1 A group of data values given in order.
short-cut evaluation 5 6 A way of evaluating Boolean expressions joined by and or or so that in some cases not all need to evaluated before the answer is determined.
side effects 2 1 Changes made by functions other than returning output.
slice 2 9 An operation that specifies slicing points for a substring.
string 2 1 A type of data consisting of a sequence of characters.
substring 2 8 A string formed by removing zero or more characters from the beginning of a string and zero or more characters from the end of a string
suffix 2 8 A string formed by removing zero or more characters from the beginning of a string.
syntax 1 1 The rules for how code must be expressed, like the grammar rules in a human language.
trace 5 8 To figure out values step by step.
True 5 1 One of the two possible values of Boolean data.
tuple 12 3 An immutable sequence in Python.
Unicode 5 3 An international standard for encoding.
user-defined 4 2 Something that is defined by a user, in contrast to built-in.
value 12 5 The data associated with a key in a dictionary.
variable 3 1 The name used to refer to some data and the address (location) where it is stored; this is allowed to change.
while loop 8 1 Repetition while a condition is true.
white box testing 7 6 Checking the uses of all the code including all branches and all settings of Boolean expressions.
wrapper function 13 3 A nonrecursive function used to set initial values in a recursive generalized version of a function.