Programming Logic and Design: Chapter 2 Key Terms
operand
a value that is manipulated by an operator
data type
an items" ____ describes what values can be held by the item, how the item is stored in computer memory, and what operations can be performed on the data item
magic number
an unnamed constant whose purpose is not immediately apparent
assignment statement
assigns a value from the right of an assignment operator to the variable or constant on the left of the assignment operator
structure
basic unit of programming logic
Alphanumeric Values
can contain alphabetic characters, numbers, and punctuation
string variable
can hoold text that includes letters, digits, and special characters such as punctuation marks.
key words
comprise the limited word set that is reserved in a language
selection structure
contains a decision in which the logic can break in one of two paths
sequence structure
contains steps that execute in order with no option of branching to skip or repeat any of the tasks
right- associativity and right-to-left associativity
describe operators that evaluate the expression form the right forst
white space
describes any character that appears to be empty such as a space or tab
left-to-right associativity
describes operators that evaluate the expression to the left first
overhead
describes the extra resources a task requires
order of operations
describes the rules of precedence
garbage
describes the unknown values that reside in variables that have not been initialized
rules or precedence
dictate the order n which operations in the same statement are carried out
internal documentation
documentation within a coded program that helps explain the meaning and purpose of program elements
batch programs
execute on large quantities of data without human intervention for each record, they accept data from a storage device, such as a disk.
Interactive programs
execute with frequent intervention from a user with and input device such as a keyboard or a mouse
real numbers
floating-point numbers
unnamed constant
is a literal numeric or sting value
method
is a named set of statements that performs some taks or group of tasks within an application.
application
is a program that you execute to accomplish some task
string constant( literal string constant)
is a specific group of characters enclosed within quotation marks
numberic constant(literal numeric constant)
is a specific numeric style
variable declaration
is a statement that provides a data type and identifier for a variable
main method
is an application's primary methhod
rvalue
is an operand to the right of an assignment operator
binary operator
is an operarot that requires two operands- one on each side
external documentation
is documentation that is outside a coded program in seperate documents
type casting
is the act of converting data from one type to another
assignment operator
is the equal sign; it is used to assign a value to the varialbe or constant on its left
camel casing
is the format for naming variable in which the initial letter is lowercase, multiple-word variable names are run together, and each new word withing the variable mane begins with an uppercase letter.
pascal casing
is the format for naming variables in which the initial letter is uppercase, multiple-word variable names are run together, and each new word within the variable name begins with and uppercase letter
lvalue
is the memory address identifier to the left of an assignment operator
identifier
is the name of a programming object such as a class, method or variable
initialize a variable
is to provide a first value for it
data dictionary
list of every variable name used in a program, along with its type, size, and description
prompt
message that is displayed on a monitor to ask the user for a response and perhaps explain how that response should be formatted
floating point
nuber with decimal places
self-documenting
programs that contain meaningful data, method and class names that describe their purpose
loop structure
repeats instructions based on a decision
named constant
similar to a variable, except that its value cannot change after the first assignment
class header
starts a class; it contains the word CLASS and an identifier
method header
starts a method. it contains an identifier followed by parentheses
echoing input
the act of repeating input back to a user either in a subsequent prompt or in output
integer
whole number
temporary variable (work variable)
working variable that you use to hold intermediate results during a program's exectution