TSA STUDY GUIDE

An example of a string variable

"Hello, World!"

When declaring a float variable in many programming languages, what suffix is commonly used to indicate it is a float value?

"f" or "F"

Gibibyte (GiB)

1 gibibyte is equal to 1024 mebibytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Gigabyte (GB)

1 gigabyte is equal to 1024 megabytes or 1,073,741,824 bytes.

Kibibyte (KiB)

1 kibibyte is equal to 1024 bytes.

Kilobyte (KB)

1 kilobyte is equal to 1024 bytes.

Mebibyte (MiB)

1 mebibyte is equal to 1024 kibibytes or 1,048,576 bytes.

Megabyte (MB)

1 megabyte is equal to 1024 kilobytes or 1,048,576 bytes.

Tebibyte (TiB)

1 tebibyte is equal to 1024 gibibytes or 1,099,511,627,776 bytes.

Terabyte (TB)

1 terabyte is equal to 1024 gigabytes or 1,099,511,627,776 bytes.

Bits and Bytes

A bit (short for binary digit) is the smallest unit of digital information, representing either a 0 or a 1. A byte is a unit of digital information that consists of 8 bits. It is the basic building block of data storage and processing in computers.

Testing Plan

A comprehensive strategy outlining the approach for ensuring the software's quality and functionality through testing.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

A structured approach to software development that encompasses planning, analysis, design, development, testing, implementation, and maintenance phases, guiding the entire software development process.

In most programming languages, how are characters represented?

As single characters or strings

Which type of variable is best suited for storing the result of a comparison operation in programming?

Boolean

Boolean Variables

Boolean variables represent true/false or binary states. They are commonly used for making decisions or controlling the flow of a program using conditional statements (e.g., if-else statements).

Float and Double Variables

Both float and double are used to represent floating-point numbers with decimal values. The primary difference between them is the precision they offer.

Character Variables

Character variables store individual characters, such as letters, digits, or symbols. They are used to work with single characters rather than whole strings. In many programming languages, characters are enclosed in single quotes ('').

Bugs

Coding errors or defects in a software that result in unexpected behavior or incorrect functionality.

User Stories

Concise descriptions of specific features or functionalities from the end user's perspective, used to prioritize development tasks.

Acceptance Testing

Conducted by end users to ensure the software meets their expectations and business requirements.

Constants

Constants are fixed values that do not change during the execution of a program. They are used to represent fixed, unchangeable data, such as mathematical values (e.g., π), configuration settings, or other predefined values. Constants should be declared with a specific value and cannot be modified during program execution. In many programming languages, constants are typically written in uppercase letters for better readability, and they may be declared at the beginning of the program or in a separate configuration file. Example declaration in a programming language (e.g., C++):

Prototype Development

Creating early-stage versions of the software to validate critical functionalities and gather feedback.

Which data type would be the most suitable to represent a large number with decimal points?

Decimal

Program Specifications

Detailed descriptions of how the software will be designed and implemented to fulfill the requirements.

Test Procedures

Detailed instructions for conducting specific tests to validate the software's functionality and behavior.

Collaboration and Communication

Effective interaction between stakeholders, developers, and testers throughout the development process.

Usability Testing

Evaluates the software's user interface and overall user experience, gathering feedback on ease of use.

Performance Testing

Evaluating the software's performance under various conditions to identify and optimize bottlenecks.

Which data type would you use to store a temperature reading like 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit?

Float

Security Testing

Identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities to protect against security threats.

Binary Prefixes

In some contexts, binary prefixes are used to denote units of digital storage. These prefixes align with powers of 2, making conversions simpler. The most common binary prefixes are:

Decimal vs. Binary

In the decimal system, which is commonly used in everyday life, numbers are based on powers of 10 (e.g., 10, 100, 1000). In the binary system, which is used in computing, numbers are based on powers of 2 (e.g., 2, 4, 8, 16).

Stakeholders

Individuals or groups who have an interest in the software, such as users, clients, project managers, and developers.

Continuous Integration and Testing

Integrating automated testing into the development process to continuously test code changes and maintain quality.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

Involving end users to gain their feedback and approval before deploying the software.

Data Storage and File Sizes

It's essential to understand that file sizes are typically measured in bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, etc. However, when describing storage capacity (e.g., hard drives, flash drives), the prefixes represent powers of 10 rather than 2. For instance, a 1 terabyte hard drive has a capacity of approximately 1,000,000,000,000 bytes.

Data Compression and File Formats

Keep in mind that file sizes can vary significantly based on compression techniques and file formats. For example, a compressed file may have a smaller size compared to its original uncompressed version. Similarly, different file formats (e.g., image formats, audio formats) can affect file sizes due to variations in compression algorithms and quality settings.

Traceability Matrix

Links requirements to their corresponding test cases, ensuring all requirements are adequately tested.

Numeric Variables

Numeric variables store numerical data, such as integers (whole numbers) and floating-point numbers (numbers with decimal points).

Regression Testing

Repeating tests after making changes to ensure existing functionalities remain unaffected.

Program Requirements

Specific objectives and functionalities that the software or program needs to achieve to meet its intended purpose.

String Variables

String variables hold sequences of characters or text. Strings are used to represent words, sentences, or any collection of characters. In most programming languages, strings are represented using double quotes ("").

Accessibility Testing

Testing to ensure the software is usable by individuals with disabilities and adheres to accessibility standards.

Project Goals

The desired outcomes or objectives to be achieved by the completion of the software development project.

Planning

The initial phase of the SDLC where project goals, requirements, and constraints are identified and a roadmap for the development process is created.

Performance

The measure of how well a software performs in terms of speed, efficiency, and resource utilization.

Maintenance

The ongoing phase of the SDLC where the software is monitored, updated, and improved to ensure its performance, security, and functionality are maintained over time.

Architecture

The overall structure and organization of a software, including its components, modules, and interactions.

Analysis

The phase of the SDLC where software requirements are gathered, existing processes are evaluated, and potential improvements or solutions are identified.

Development

The phase of the SDLC where the software is built and programming code is written, following the design specifications and requirements.

Implementation

The phase of the SDLC where the software is deployed and made available to end-users, often involving data migration, user training, and change management processes.

Testing

The phase of the SDLC where the software is thoroughly tested to identify and fix any bugs or errors, ensuring it meets the specified requirements and functions as intended.

Design

The phase of the SDLC where the software's architecture, interface, and components are planned and documented, laying the foundation for development.

Interface

The point of interaction between the user and the software, allowing users to input commands and receive output.

Deployment

The process of making a software available for use by installing, configuring, and initializing it in the target environment.

Change Management

The process of planning, coordinating, and managing changes to a software to ensure a smooth transition and minimize disruption to users.

Data Migration

The process of transferring data from one software or storage location to another during software implementation.

Security

The protection of a software and its data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.

Functionality

The set of features and capabilities that a software provides to meet the needs and requirements of its users.

Requirements

The specific functionalities, features, and constraints that the software must meet to fulfill the needs of the stakeholders.

Conversion

To convert from one unit to another, you multiply or divide by the appropriate conversion factor. For example, to convert bytes to kilobytes, divide the number of bytes by 1024. To convert kilobytes to bytes, multiply the number of kilobytes by 1024.Similarly, to convert between other units (e.g., megabytes to gigabytes, gigabytes to terabytes), use the appropriate conversion factors.

What is the primary purpose of Boolean variables in programming?

To represent true or false values for logical operations

Automated Testing

Using software tools to execute tests and compare expected outcomes with actual results, improving testing efficiency.

Variables

Variables, on the other hand, represent data that can change during program execution. They are used to store and manipulate data dynamically as the program runs. Variables should be declared with a specific data type and can have different values assigned or updated during the program's execution. In most programming languages, variables have a specific scope (i.e., where they are accessible) and are declared with a name that follows certain naming conventions (e.g., no spaces, must start with a letter or underscore). Example declaration in a programming language (e.g., Python):

Speed and Storage

When discussing data transfer rates or network speeds, it's common to use bits per second (bps) or variations like kilobits per second (Kbps) or megabits per second (Mbps). This differs from storage measurements where bytes are used.

Which data type provides higher precision for handling floating

point numbers? - Double