Appendix:Glossary of computer programming

This is a glossary of computer programming.

A

 * abstract class : A class that cannot be directly constructed, one that can be constructed only through construction of some of its subclasses.
 * abstract type : A type in a nominative type system that cannot be instantiated.
 * actual argument : A value, or reference to a value, passed to a function.
 * app : An application that executes on a small, handheld device.
 * application : A program or integrated suite of programs that has a defined function.
 * argument : A value, or reference to a value, passed to a function; an actual argument.
 * argument : A parameter in a function definition; a formal argument.
 * array : An ordered sequence of same-typed values whose elements are fast to access by their numerical index in the array.

B

 * Boolean : A data type for yes or no, true or false values.

C

 * class : A set of objects having the same behavior (but typically differing in state), or a template defining such a set.
 * compiler : A computer program which transforms source code into object code.
 * constant : An identifier that is bound to an invariant value.
 * constructor : A class method (in object-oriented programming) that creates and initializes each instance of an object.

D

 * data type : A classification or category of various types of data, that states the possible values that can be taken, how they are stored, and what range of operations are allowed on them.
 * destructor : In object-oriented programming, the command sequence that is launched when the execution of an object is finished.
 * dump : A formatted listing of the contents of program storage, especially when produced automatically by a failing program

E

 * enumeration : A data type whose values are a set of mutually exclusive named constants.
 * exception : An interruption in normal processing, especially as caused by an error condition.

F

 * floating point : A method of representing real numbers as a pair of integers (the mantissa and characteristic)
 * flow chart : A schematic representation of the logic that defines the flow of control through a program
 * formal argument : A parameter in a function definition.
 * function : A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.
 * functional programming : A programming paradigm that treats computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions, avoids state and mutable data, and makes it easy to construct functions as if they were data objects.

G

 * goto / go to : A statement (in source code) that transfers control unconditionally to another part of a program

H

 * heap : An area of memory reserved for dynamically allocated data objects, contrasted to the stack.

I

 * identifier : A formal name used in source code to refer to a variable, function, procedure, package, etc.
 * integer : A data type for integer values.
 * interpreter : A program which executes another program written in a programming language other than machine code.

L

 * linker / link editor : A computer program that takes one or more objects generated by compilers and assembles them into a single executable program.
 * logic programming : A style or paradigm of computer programming exemplified by the language Prolog.

M

 * machine code : System of instructions and data directly understandable by a computer's central processing unit.
 * method : In object-oriented languages, a subroutine or function belonging to a class or object.
 * module : A program that is linked with others to form a functioning application; one method of implementing a subroutine

O

 * object : An instance of a class.
 * object code : The output of a compiler or assembler, not necessarily executable directly without linking to other modules.
 * object-oriented : Using entities called objects that can process data and exchange messages with other objects.

P

 * paradigm : A fundamental style of computer programming to which the design of a programming language typically has to cater, such as imperative programming, declarative programming, or, on a finer level, functional programming, logic programming or object-oriented programming.
 * parameter : A name in a function or subroutine definition that is replaced by, or bound to, the corresponding actual argument when the function or subroutine is called.
 * procedure : A subroutine or function coded to perform a specific task.
 * program : A software application, or a collection of software applications, designed to perform a specific task.

R

 * real : A number containing a decimal point, e.g. the number pi is a real number with a value of approximately 3.14159268
 * run time : The time during which a program is executing, as oppose to the compile time.

S

 * source code : Human-readable instructions in a programming language, to be transformed into machine instructions by a compiler, interpreter, assembler or other such system.
 * stack : The portion of the computer memory used to keep track of called procedures or call instructions.
 * string : A data type for a sequence of characters such as letters of English alphabet.
 * subclass : In object-oriented programming, an object class derived from another class (its superclass) from which it inherits a base set of properties and methods.
 * subprogram : A program contained within a larger program.
 * subroutine : A section of code that implements a task. While it may be used at more than one point in a program, it need not be.
 * superclass : A class that passes attributes and methods down the hierarchy to subclasses.

T

 * type : A tag attached to variables and values used in determining what values may be assigned to what variables.

V

 * variable : A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.