Mod 1: Introducing Python

Function

A block of code that performs a task.

Code library

A collection of pre-written and tested programming code which can be reused when writing new programs.

Expression

A combination of one or more constants, variables, operators, and functions that the programming language interprets and computes to produce another value.

Variable

A named object containing a value.

High-level language

A programming language that is designed to be easy for humans to read and write. The programmer needs to understand syntax, but not computer hardware.

Computer program

A set of instructions that directs the computer to perform a variety of tasks.

Call

A statement that executes a function. It consists of the function name followed by an argument list.

Source-to-source compiler

A translator that converts between programming languages that operate at approximately the same level of abstraction. e.g. Python to JavaScript

Function name

A unique identifier given to the function when it is defined and used again whenever the function is called.

Paradigms

A way to classify programming languages based on their features; a pattern or model

Source code

Contains instructions written by a programmer specifying the actions to be performed by computer software

Compiler

Converts a program written in a high-level language into machine code, scanning and translating the entire program as a whole.

Interpreter

Converts a program written in a high-level language into machine code, translating the program one statement at a time.

Interpreted language

Takes the most recently entered instruction, translates it into machine language, and executes it. (Translated one line/instruction at a time)

Value

The assigned meaning to a variable.

Return type

The data type of the value that the function returns; also called the data type of the function.

Function heading

The first line in a function; marks the beginning of the function

Syntax

The form of a code, or the set of rules that define what the various combinations of keywords and characters mean. This tells the computer how to read the code.

Machine language

The language made up of binary-coded instructions that a computer reads and interprets. The only language a computer is capable of understanding.

Function body

The part of a function that contains the commands

Execution

The process by which a computer executes the instructions of a computer program.

Parameters

Variables declared inside the parentheses in a function heading defining the data that must be passed to the function when it is called

Argument

Variables or values passed to the function in its calling statement