| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Address | A specific location in memory. |
| AI | Artificial Intelligence. Systems that act like humans e.g Chat bots. |
| Alpha | A very early version of a program still under development. |
| API | Application Programming Interface. Set of functions or routines to access features of an OS or system. |
| Argument | A value needed for a subroutine or function. |
| Array | A list of values with the same variable name. e.g. Names$(20) = A list of 20 people's names. |
| Assembler | Converts human readable assembly language into machine code (numbers). |
| Assembly | Machine code instructions represented with mnemonics for each instruction for easy reading. E.g. ADD, SUB, JMP, SUB, RET |
| Associative index | Uses a non-numeric value to set or retreive data from an array. E.g. fruit['apple']. |
| BASIC | Beginner's all purpose symbolic instruction code. An interpreted or compiled language using more user friendly command names and syntax. |
| Beta | A program with most of the functionality included but still has bugs and requires more work before release. |
| Binary | A base 2 number system using characters 0,1. Also refers to compiled program files. E.g. 10100 = 16 |
| Boolean | A value or condition that is True or False. |
| Breakpoint | A book marked point in program when a program is stopped so further investigation or debugging. |
| Branch | A statement to jump or branch to another part of the program e.g. JMP, GOTO |
| Bug | A error or mistake in a program. |
| Buffer | An area of memory reserved to store data. |
| Byte | A value containing either unsigned value (0-255) or an signed value (-127 to 128). Character values are usually Bytes. |
| C/C++ | Compiler for the C language. C++ is the class object based version. Commonly used on a wide range of platforms and operating systems. |
| C# | C Hash. Microsoft's compiler based on C and the .NET Framework class system. |
| CGI | Common Gateway Interface. A standard for dynamic web pages using scripting and programming languages such as perl, php, vbs. |
| Concatenation | Process of joining one or more strings to make another string. E.g. "per" & "cent" = "percent" |
| Condition | A check for equality or less/greater between values. E.g. =, <> or !=, <, >, <=, >= |
| Character | Can be any printable digit, letter, symbol or other characters. See ASCII table for available characters. |
| Class | A group of variables and subroutines (aka methods). |
| Cobol | Common business orientated language. Language commonly used on mainframe and mini-computers. |
| Comment | A remark by the programmer to explain some part of the code. |
| Compile | Process to convert source code into executable object code. |
| Condition | An Expression that evaluates to true or false e.g A=5, B<6, D>=4 |
| Constant | A name of a value that never changes. e.g. PI is always 3.14 |
| Counter | A variable which is incremented or decremented in a loop. e.g. FOR..NEXT |
| Debugging | Process of removing errors (or bugs) from programs. Decision A condition in a program to execute one set of instructions if it true or another set if it is false. E.g. IF..THEN..ELSE |
| Declaration | An instruction to inform the format of a variable etc. E.g. Integer, Floating Point, String etc. |
| Developer | A person who designs, writes and tests programs , also known as a Programmer. |
| Directives | Special instructions for the compiler's use only and not included in the program itself. |
| Engine | A package framework of functions and tools designed specifically for a type of software such as games. |
| Errors | Errors can by syntax errors where code does not meet documented format, or logical where the processing or result is not what you expected it to produce. |
| Event | A specific action accures such as a timed event or a user pressing the mouse or selecting a menu option. |
| Expression | A series of values, operators and functions to produce a result. E.g. 5 * 6 + 10 |
| Floating Point | A decimal value e.g. 10.5, 1.7, 1034.0 |
| Flowchart | A diagram to show instructions and the flow from one instruction to the next using boxes and lines. |
| Fortran | Formula Translation language, used for mathematical an scientific programs. |
| Framework | A collection of prepackaged solutions containing clases, functions and subroutines that ca be used as a basis of programs. Examples, Node.js, .NET Framework, .NET Core, ~Angular, React. |
| Freeware | A program written by an individual which is freely distributable to use with no cost to user. |
| Function | One or more program instructions which will
eventually return a result. E.g. SQR(9) function with return a 3. |
| Gadget | An icon or button on a Window or Screen. |
| Header files | Files that contain code that may be shared between source files for things like common system include files, variable and function definitions. |
| Hexademcimal | A base 16 number system using characters 0-9,A-F. |
| Include | Another program file which may contain lists of constants, functions and subroutines needed for the program. |
| Index | The nth item of an array. E.g. Names$(10) is the 10th item of Names array. |
| Inheritance | A case where a class can inherit or access data and methods of its parent class. |
| Instance | An instance of a class is an area of memory to hold data in a given class' format.For example, an Astra is an instance of the Car class. |
| Integer | A whole number e.g. 1,2,3,4,5. |
| Iteration | A counted loop of program instructions. e.g. A FOR loop. |
| Interpret | Process when a program is run that each instruction is converted to machine code when each line is to be executed. Does not require compiling before running e.g. Arexx, Basic, Javascript. |
| Java | A portable language which can be run on any platform with a Runtime Environment installed. First developed by Sun Microsystems and now owned by Oracle. |
| Javascript | A scripting language used by web sites for dynamic content. First developed by Netscape. |
| Library | A collection of functions and subroutines which can be called from a program such as AmigaOS Libraries, Unix .so or .lib files and Window's DLLs (Dynamic Link Libraries). Libraries can be linked to a program or shared between programs. |
| Linked List | A list of values linked by special pointers to the next item in the list. |
| Linking | Process to combine compiled object code with operating system supplied libraries and startup code to produce a self-contained executable program. |
| Loop | A list of program instructions repeated either with a count or a condition. e.g. FOR..NEXT, DO WHILE, DO..UNTIL loops |
| Machine Code | A Program written in the processor's native language. Contains a list of numbers to represent instructions and data. |
| Machine Learning | A system that learns as it processes and analysis data withhout being specifically programmed to do so. |
| Makefile | A text file that describes how a program is to be compiled into a program. |
| Menu | A method to allow a user to select a task from a list. |
| Method | A subroutine for used to process data in a given class. |
| Mnemonic | A 'English' representation of an assembly instruction. E.g. LD = Load, JMP = Jump, BE = Branch if Equal, MOV = Move |
| Object | An object can be anything, a vehicle, a car, a person, a shape, an account. It can be anything. Objects can be 'members' of other objects e.g. a car is a member of vehicles. |
| Object code | A compiled program but not yet linked to libraries or added startup code (see C). |
| Object Orientated | A programming methodology which combines subroutines and variables together into classes with a common purpose. E.g. Account class has a Opening balance, Account number, Current balance and can be Opened, Closed, Debited or Credited to. |
| Octal | A Base 8 number system. E.g. 124 = 1 x 16 + 2 x 8 + 4 x 1 = 16+16+4=36 |
| Open Source | Software source code is made publicly available for use by anyone to use and or update. Licences include GNU GPL, Apache, MIT etc. |
| Operator | A simple function on one or more values. E.g. + (add), - (subtract), * (multiply), / (divide) ^ (power). |
| Overload | Technique using for subprograms or functions to give different methods depending on number of arguments or results esp. in object-orientated languages. |
| Parameter | A value needed for a subroutine or function. |
| Perl | Common scripting language used on unix platforms and sometimes on web sites. |
| PHP | PHP: Prehypertext Processor. Another common scripting language used on web sites. |
| Pointer | A variable which points to an address in memory and can be updated to point to neighbouring addresses. |
| Program | A set of instructions to perform a given task. e.g A game, a database, Word processor etc. |
| Project | Contains the code, images and other files for a computer program, web site etc |
| Proprietry | Program and source code is privately owned and licenced by the developer or distributor for use. |
| Prototype | The syntax of a function or subroutine call including format of any parameters required. A demo program which shows off some of the program's functionality. |
| Pseudo Code | A method in which program logic is written down using English like commands instead of a specific programming language. |
| Python | General programming language which is easy to learn and has powerful features. |
| Queue | A list of items that are added at one end and removed from the other. |
| Screen | A workspace on the display to show windows and applications. Workbench is an example of a screen. |
| Script | A program which is written in plain text and run via an interpreter e.g. VBScript, Javascript, DOS, Powershell, Bash etc. |
| SDK | Software Development Kit. Set of programs, tools, tutorials, documentation and sample code to help develop programs for a given system. |
| Sequence | A list of program instructions run one after another. |
| Shareware | A program written by an individual which is freely distributed but limited in some functionality to encourage users to pay for the full version |
| Solution | A collection of projects that is used to create a program suite. |
| Source code | A collection of files when compiled produces a program. |
| Stack | A list of values that are added and removed from the top only. |
| Static | A variable whose contents remains static no matter where it is used in main program or subprograms. |
| String | A series of character values e.g. John, Bicycle, 01422 556780 |
| Structured | A program which is split into subroutines and functions each with a specific purpose. |
| Subprogram | See subroutine. |
| Subroutine | A seperate group of instructions to perform a specific process or function within a program which may be called one or more times. |
| Substring | Process to extract part of string from a string. |
| Syntax | Format of a command e.g. FOR var=first TO last [STEP n] |
| Threading | A technique where two or more routines are split off and run at the same time. Possible to do in some languages such as C, Java. |
| Variable | A location in memory to store a number or a string. |
| Window | A portion of the screen to display information in text or graphical format. |