AP CSP 2.2-2.7

Motherboard

A circuit board that contains all of the computer system's main components.

The Internet

A global network connecting millions of computers, making it possible to exchange information.

High level language

A programming language like Python that is designed to be easy for humans to read and write.

Low level language

A programming language that is designed to be easy for a computer to execute; also called machine language or assembly language.

Communication Protocol

A set of rules for efficiently transmitting data from one network node to another.

Algorithm

A step by step procedure that does some calculation or computation

The World Wide Web

A system for finding information on the Internet through the use of linked documents, based on the HTTP protocol

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

Brain of the computer that performs instructions defined by software

Sir Tim Berners-Lee

Inventor of the World Wide Web

RAM

Random Access Memory

Sequence

The application of each step of the algorithm in the order in which the statements are given

Interpretation

The process of translating source code into machine language one instruction at a time and immediately executing instruction

Compilation

The process of translating the entire source code into a single binary file

Repetition

The repeating of a part of the algorithm for a specified number of times or until a condition is met

Selection

Uses a boolean condition to decide which part of the algorithm to use

General Purpose Computers

a computer that can run many different programs (e.g. a smartphone)

Pseudocode

a high-level description of the actions of a program or algorithm, using a mixture of English and informal programming language syntax. cannot be programed by a computer

A Computer Chip

a small piece of semiconducting material, usually silicon, on which integrated circuits are etched

Special Purpose Computers

designed to perform only a few specialized functions

Hardware

the physical parts of a computer

Software

the programs and other operating information used by a computer.