RBSE SS Informatics Practices key terms

A one-dimensional labelled array in Pandas that holds data of a single type, with an index for each value. It behaves like a column of a spreadsheet.

A two-dimensional labelled table in Pandas made of rows and columns, where each column is a Series. It supports mixed data types and is the main structure for tabular analysis.

The set of labels attached to rows or columns of a Pandas Series or DataFrame. It allows fast lookup and alignment of data, and may be default numbers or custom labels.

A Pandas indexer that selects rows and columns using their labels. Slices with loc include both endpoints, and the column part is optional for Series.

A Pandas indexer that selects rows and columns by integer position, starting at zero. Its slices exclude the ending position, matching normal Python slicing rules.

A filtering technique where a True or False Series is used to select only rows whose condition is True. It is commonly written inside square brackets after the DataFrame name.

Extracting a contiguous part of a Series, DataFrame, list, or string using start, stop, and step values. In Pandas, label slicing with loc includes the stop label.

The process of visiting rows or values one by one, for example with iterrows() or items() in Pandas. It is useful for row-wise logic but slower than vectorised operations.

A Pandas function that loads a delimited text file, usually comma-separated, into a DataFrame. Parameters control the separator, header row, column names, and missing values.

A DataFrame method that writes data to a CSV file. Options control the separator, whether the index is saved, and how missing values are represented.

Placeholders in Pandas for absent or undefined data, usually shown as NaN. They propagate through calculations unless removed, filled, or explicitly ignored.

A Pandas method that removes rows or columns containing missing values. Its how and subset arguments decide whether any or all values must be missing.

A Pandas function that combines two DataFrames on common key columns, similar to a SQL join. The how argument selects inner, outer, left, or right matching.

A Pandas method that returns summary statistics such as count, mean, standard deviation, minimum, quartiles, and maximum for numeric columns. It gives a quick overview of data distribution.

The matplotlib module that provides a state-based interface for creating figures and axes and for adding plots, titles, labels, and legends with simple function calls.

A chart that connects data points with straight lines, usually showing a trend over ordered values such as time. It suits continuous or sequential data.

A chart that uses rectangular bars whose lengths represent values for categorical items. It is useful for comparing discrete categories side by side.

A chart that groups numerical data into bins and shows the frequency of values in each bin. Adjacent bars touch to display the shape of a distribution.

A chart that places one dot for each observation using two numerical variables as coordinates. It helps reveal relationships, clusters, and outliers between variables.

Data Definition Language: SQL statements such as CREATE, ALTER, and DROP that define or change the structure of database objects like tables. They do not manipulate row data.

Data Manipulation Language: SQL statements such as INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE that change the rows stored in tables. SELECT is often grouped with DML for querying.

The SQL statement that retrieves rows and columns from one or more tables. Its clauses include WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING, and ORDER BY for filtering and sorting.

An SQL clause that filters rows before grouping or sorting, keeping only those for which a condition is true. It can use comparison, logical, and pattern operators.

An SQL clause that sorts the result rows by one or more columns, either ascending or descending. Without it, row order in a result is not guaranteed.

An SQL clause that arranges rows into groups sharing equal values in listed columns. Aggregate functions then summarise each group instead of the whole table.

An SQL clause that filters groups after GROUP BY has been applied. Unlike WHERE, it can test aggregate results such as COUNT(*) or SUM(amount).

An SQL operation that combines rows from two or more tables using a related column. Common types include inner, left, right, and full outer joins.

A local area network connects devices within a limited area such as a school, office, or home. It normally offers high speed, low cost, and easy resource sharing.

A wide area network covers a large geographic area, linking devices or smaller networks across cities or countries. The internet is the largest example.

A network layout in which every device connects to a central hub or switch. Failure of one cable affects one device, but failure of the centre can stop the whole network.

A network device that forwards data packets between different networks and chooses paths using routing information. Home routers also often provide switching, wireless access, and firewall functions.

The core suite of protocols used on the internet. TCP provides reliable, ordered delivery, while IP handles addressing and routing of packets between networks.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol, an application-layer protocol used by web browsers and servers to request and transfer web pages and other resources. HTTPS adds encryption through TLS.

A hardware or software barrier that inspects network traffic and allows or blocks packets according to rules. It helps protect a network from unauthorised access.

The trail of data a person leaves online through posts, searches, transactions, and visits. It can be active, when deliberately shared, or passive, when collected automatically.

Illegal activity carried out using computers or networks, such as hacking, identity theft, phishing, or spreading malware. It may target data, money, or a person's reputation.

Intellectual property rights protect creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary works, designs, and trademarks. Legal tools include patents, copyright, and trademarks.

A legal agreement that states how a program may be used, copied, modified, and distributed. Examples include proprietary, freeware, open-source, and shareware licences.

Discarded electrical and electronic equipment such as old computers, phones, and chargers. It requires safe recycling because it may contain toxic materials and recoverable metals.

A structured document describing the aim, data, method, code, results, and conclusions of a practical project. It usually includes screenshots of output and a bibliography.