AP Computer Science - Principles
CSP Framework statements (3.3)
"4.1.1A Sequencing, selection, and iteration are building blocks of algorithms." "4.1.2G Every algorithm can be constructed using only sequencing, selection and iteration" Sequencing, Selection, & Iteration (see next 3 terms)
Iteration (3.9)
"Loop" by another name - the repetition of a statement, process, or procedure.
(1.7) ASCII
(American Standard Code for Information Interchange) The universally recognized raw text format that any computer can understand.
(1.12) DNS
(Domain Name System) The Internet's system for converting alphabetic names into numeric IP addresses.
(1.13) HTTP
(Hypertext Transfer Protocol); the protocol used by the World Wide Web. It describes how messages are formatted and interchanged, and how web servers respond to commands.
(1.8) RFC
(Request for Comments) Documents are how standards and protocols are defined and published for all to see on the IETF website.
(1.11) TCP
(Transmission Control Protocol) Provides reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of a stream of packets on the internet. Tightly linked with IP and usually seen as TCP/IP in writing.
Boolean condition (3.3)
A TRUE/FALSE condition.
Big Data (4.1)
A broad term for datasets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate.
Library (3.7)
A collection of commands / functions, typically with a shared purpose
API (3.7)
A collection of commands made available to a programmer
(2.14) Aggregation
A computation in which rows from a data set are grouped together and used to compute a single value of more significant meaning or measurement. Common aggregations include: Average, Count, Sum, Max, Median, etc. For example, if some dataset contained information about how many hours of television people watched and included their age, you could "aggregate the data by age" and compute the average hours watched for each age group. You could also "aggregate by hours of TV watched" and compute the average age for each number of hours.
(1.13) Server
A computer that awaits and responds to requests for data.
(1.13) Client
A computer that requests data stored on a server.
(1.10) Router
A computer which receives messages travelling across a network and redirects them towards their intended destinations based on the addressing information included with the message.
(1.3) Bit
A contraction of "Binary Digit". The single unit of information in a computer, typically represented as a 0 or 1.
(2.2) lossless compression
A data compression algorithm that allows the original data to be perfectly reconstructed from the compressed data.
Documentation (3.7)
A description of the behavior of a command, function, library, API, etc.
(2.12) README
A document providing background information about a dataset.
(1.2) Binary message
A message that can only be one of two possible values.
(1.9) IP Adderss
A number assigned to any item that is connected to the Internet.
(2.4) Hexidecimal Color System
A number system consisting of 16 distinct symbols — 0-9 and A-F — which can occur in each place value.
For Loop (3.9)
A particular kind of looping construct provided in many languages. Typically, a for loop defines a counting variable that is checked and incremented on each iteration in order to loop a specific number of times.
Function (3.6)
A piece of code that you can easily call over and over again.
Algorithm (3.2, 3.3)
A precise sequence of instructions for processes that can be executed by a computer and are implemented using programming languages.
(1.1) Prototype
A preliminary sketch of an idea or model for something new. It's the original drawing from which something real might be built or created.
(2.2) Heuristic
A problem solving approach (algorithm) to find a satisfactory solution where finding an optimal or exact solution is impractical or impossible.
Loop (3.9)
A programming construct that repeats a group of commands.
Low level programming language (3.2)
A programming language that captures only the most primitive operations available to a machine. Anything that a computer can do can be represented with combinations of low level commands.
High level programming language (3.2)
A programming language with many commands and features designed to make common tasks easier to program. Any high level functionality is encapsulated as combinations of low level commands.
(2.7) Hypothesis
A proposed explanation for some phenomenon used as the basis for further investigation.
(1.2) Binary question
A question to which there are only two possible answers.
(1.3, 1.6, 1.7, 1.9) Protocol
A set of rules governing the exchange or transmission of data between devices.
(2.12, 14) Summary table
A table of aggregate information about a dataset (e.g., the average, sum, count of some values).
(2.3) Image
A type of data used for graphics or pictures.
(2.12) CSV
Abbreviation of "comma-separated values," this is a widely-used format for storing data.
Parameter (3.7, 3.8)
An extra piece of information that you pass to the function to customize it for a specific need.
(2.3) Metadata
Data that describes other data. For example, a digital image may include metadata that describe the size of the image, number of colors, or resolution.
Abstraction (3.6)
Pulling out specific differences to make one solution work for multiple problems.
(1.13, 2.6) Abstraction
Reducing information and detail to focus on essential characteristics.
Selection (3.3)
Selection uses a Boolean condition (a TRUE/FALSE condition) to determine which of two parts of an algorithm is used.
(2.3) Pixel
Short for "picture element" it is the fundamental unit of a digital image, typically a tiny square or dot which contains a single point of color of a larger image.
(1.11) Packets
Small chunks of information that have been carefully formed from larger chunks of information.
(1.9) Packets
Small chunks of information that have been carefully formed from larger chunks of information.
Sequencing (3.3)
The application of each step of an algorithm in the order in which the statements are given.
(1.3) Bit rate (or bitrate)
The number of bits that are conveyed or processed per unit of time. e.g. 8 bits/sec.
Moore's Law (4.1)
The observation that computing power roughly doubles every two years.
(2.12) Raw data
The original data as it was collected.
Iteration (3.3)
The repetition of part of an algorithm until a condition is met or for a specified number of times.
(2.14) Pivot table
The tool used by most spreadsheet programs to create a summary table.
(1.3) Latency
Time it takes for a bit to travel from its sender to its receiver.
(1.7) Code (verb)
To write code, or to write instructions for a computer.
(1.3) Bandwidth
Transmission capacity measure by bit rate
