AP Computer Science

• Syntax error


  A mistake in typed code violating programming language rules.
• Logic error


  Mistake in an algorithm causing unexpected behavior.
• Run-time error


  Error occurring when a program is executed.
• Overflow error


  Error due to insufficient bits to represent a number.
• Bit


  Binary digit, 0 or 1.
• Byte


  Sequence of 8 bits.
• Analog data


  Values changing smoothly over time.
• Lossless


  Data compression preserving all original data.
• Lossy


  Data compression discarding some data.
• Metadata


  Descriptive data about other data.
• Sequencing


  Sequential execution of steps in an algorithm.
• Selection


  Boolean condition determining paths in an algorithm.
• Iteration


  Repetition of steps until a condition is met.
• Linear search


  Algorithm finding a target value in a list.
• Binary search


  Algorithm searching a sorted list by splitting it.
• Reasonable time


  Algorithm's run time not increasing superpolynomially.
• Heuristic


  Technique aiding algorithms in solving hard problems.
• Undecidable


  Problem without an algorithmic solution.
• Library


  Collection of useful procedures for programs.
• API


  Library of procedures with call descriptions.
• Modularity


  Separating a program into independent modules.
• Traversal


  Iterating over items in a list.
• Computing device


  Physical device running programs.
• Computer network


  Interconnected devices for data exchange.
• Bandwidth


  Maximum data sent over a network in a period.
• Protocol


  Set of rules specifying system behavior.
• Scalability


  System's ability to adjust to new demands.
• IP (Internet Protocol)


  Protocol for addressing and routing data.
• TCP (Transmission Control Protocol)


  Protocol for reliable data transmission.
• UDP (User Datagram Protocol)


  Lightweight data transport protocol.
• World Wide Web


  System of linked web pages and media.
• HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)


  Protocol for web data exchange.
• Parallel computing


  Model splitting tasks for simultaneous execution.
• Speedup


  Improvement in time for parallelized programs.
• Distributed computing


  Model using multiple devices for program parts.
• Digital divide


  Disparity in computing access among communities.
• Crowdsourcing


  Collaborative model for funding or generating ideas.
• Citizen science


  Public participation in scientific research.
• Creative Commons


  Copyright alternative allowing shared use.
• Open access


  Policy for public access to documents or data.