MATSEC IM Information Technology key terms

A precise, step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task, which can be followed mechanically and always produces a result in a finite number of steps.

A structured, English-like notation used to describe an algorithm without the strict syntax of a programming language, making the logic easy to read and translate into code later.

A diagram that represents an algorithm or process using standard symbols such as rectangles for steps, diamonds for decisions, and arrows to show the order of execution.

A named storage location in a program whose value can change during execution; it has a data type and a current value stored in memory.

A named value that cannot be changed while a program runs, used for fixed quantities such as the value of pi or a maximum array size.

A classification that specifies which kind of value a variable can hold (for example integer, real, character, string, or Boolean) and which operations can be performed on it.

A whole number data type that can be positive, negative, or zero, with no fractional part, typically stored in a fixed number of bits.

A numeric data type that can store numbers with a fractional part, such as 3.14 or -0.5, usually represented in floating-point form.

A data type with only two possible values, true and false, used to represent conditions and the results of comparisons in programs and logic circuits.

A sequence of characters treated as a single data item, such as a name or a sentence; strings are often stored in arrays and manipulated with operations like concatenation and length.

The operation that stores a value into a variable, usually written with an equals sign or arrow, replacing any previous value held by that variable.

A combination of values, variables, operators, and function calls that is evaluated to produce a single result, such as a + b * 2.

A symbol or keyword that performs an operation on one or more values, for example arithmetic operators (+, -), comparison operators (=, <), and logical operators (AND, OR, NOT).

A programming construct that chooses between alternative actions depending on whether a condition is true or false, typically written as if-then-else.

A control structure that repeats a block of instructions while a condition holds or for a specified number of times, avoiding the need to duplicate code.

One complete pass through the body of a loop, or the general technique of repeating steps; for example, a loop that runs ten times performs ten iterations.

A collection of elements of the same data type stored in consecutive memory locations and accessed by an index, such as scores[1] through scores[30].

A number used to identify a particular element within an array or string, often starting at zero or one depending on the programming language.

A named block of code that performs a specific task and can be called from other parts of a program, often taking parameters and returning a value; also called a procedure or function.

A variable declared in a subprogram's definition that receives a value when the subprogram is called, allowing the same code to work with different data.

The actual value passed to a subprogram when it is called, which is assigned to the corresponding parameter inside the subprogram.

The result that a function sends back to the point where it was called, produced by a return statement and usable in further expressions.

A program that translates source code written in a high-level language into machine code or another lower-level form all at once, producing an executable file before the program runs.

A program that reads source code and executes it directly, statement by statement, without producing a separate executable file; errors are usually reported as each line is reached.

A translator that converts assembly language, a low-level symbolic notation, into machine code that the processor can execute directly.

Program text written by a programmer in a high-level or assembly language, which must be translated before the computer can execute it.

The binary instructions that a particular processor can execute directly, consisting of operation codes and operands encoded as patterns of bits.

An electronic circuit that performs a basic Boolean operation such as AND, OR, or NOT on one or more binary inputs to produce a single binary output.

A table that lists all possible combinations of input values for a logic circuit or Boolean expression and shows the corresponding output for each combination.

A number system with base 2 that uses only the digits 0 and 1, matching the two states of digital electronic circuits and used to represent all data in computers.

A binary digit, either 0 or 1, which is the smallest unit of data in a computer; groups of bits represent numbers, characters, and instructions.

A group of eight bits treated as a unit, commonly used to store one character or a small integer; memory and storage sizes are often measured in bytes and multiples of bytes.

A base-16 number system using digits 0-9 and letters A-F, often used as a compact way to write binary values because each hexadecimal digit represents exactly four bits.

A character encoding standard that assigns a unique 7-bit code to letters, digits, punctuation, and control characters, allowing text to be stored and exchanged between systems.

A character encoding standard that aims to represent the characters of all written languages, using code points that can be encoded in forms such as UTF-8 and UTF-16.

A single letter, digit, punctuation mark, or symbol, stored in a computer using a character code such as ASCII or Unicode.

System software that manages hardware resources, provides services to application programs, and offers a user interface, controlling memory, files, and input/output devices.

A small program that performs a specific maintenance or housekeeping task, such as compressing files, backing up data, or scanning for viruses.

The part of an operating system that organizes, stores, retrieves, and protects files on storage devices, keeping track of names, locations, and access permissions.