Programming Key Terms

Record

A data type that groups related fields together; the fields may use different data types.

Array

An organised collection of values that provides a way to store multiple related items, commonly using elements of the same data type.

Selection

A programming structure that chooses which statement or group of statements to execute based on a condition.

Subroutine

A named procedure or function containing statements that can be used as a separate part of a program.

Integer division

Division that produces the whole-number part of a division and does not include the fractional part.

Remainder

The amount left over after one integer has been divided by another using complete whole-number divisions.

Relational operator

An operator used to compare two values, such as ==, !=, <, >, <= or >=.

Boolean result

The True or False value produced when a relational expression compares values.

Boolean operation

An operation that works with Boolean values, usually True or False, to produce a Boolean result.

XOR

Exclusive OR; a Boolean operation that produces True when exactly one input is True.

Variable

A named value in a program that can be changed during program execution.

Constant

A named value in a program that is intended not to change during program execution.

Substring

A sequence of consecutive characters extracted from a string.

Character code

A numeric code associated with a character, which can be converted to or from the character.

Random number generation

Using a programming language feature or function to produce a value selected within a specified range.

Inclusive range

A range in which both the lower limit and upper limit can be generated.

Exception

An exceptional condition that occurs while a program is executing and may require a planned response.

Exception handling

The use of programming structures to respond to exceptions during program execution.

Subroutine

A named out-of-line block of code that may be executed by calling its name in a program statement.

Call

The act of executing a subroutine by writing its name in a program statement.

Parameter

A named variable in a subroutine definition that receives a value passed into the subroutine.

Subroutine interface

The way a subroutine is accessed, including its name and the parameters that callers must supply.

Calling routine

The part of a program that invokes a subroutine and can receive and use the value returned by it.

Return value

The value sent from a subroutine back to the calling routine by a return statement.

Local variable

A variable declared within a subroutine that is accessible only within that subroutine and exists only while the subroutine is executing.

Subroutine

A named section of a program that can be executed to perform a particular task and can contain its own local variables.

Local variable

A variable whose scope is limited to the function or other local section in which it is defined.

Global variable

A variable defined outside a local section and available from a wider part of the program.

Stack frame

The section of the stack containing information for one active subroutine call, including its return address, parameters and local variables.

Return address

The location of the instruction in the calling subroutine where execution resumes after the called subroutine finishes.