Hi, my name is Cindy, and I am currently in my second year of the Computer Science program. Throughout my studies, I have encountered numerous concepts and terminologies that are fundamental to understanding the field of computer science. This glossary is meant for beginners it's about basic Computer Science terms that could help newcomers in this program to learn those new words. The glossary includes 15 basic terms that are often encountered in the context of computer programming. I chose these 15 words because they represent the foundational concepts of programming that apply across different languages, theirs definitions were taken from a simple research on google. I hope this glossary helps you familiarize yourself with some of the basics of programming and makes your learning journey a little easier.
API (Application Programming Interface)
noun
An API is a set of rules, protocols, and tools that allows different software applications to communicate with each other.
Example: The API allows the app to fetch weather data from a remote server and display it to the user.
fr: API (Interface de programmation d'application)
array
noun
An array is a data structure that stores a collection of elements, typically of the same data type, in a fixed-size, contiguous block of memory. Each element can be accessed using an index.
Example: The array numbers contains the values 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which can be accessed using their indices.
fr: tableau
class
noun
A blueprint for creating objects, defining their properties and behaviors. It defines properties (data) and behaviors (functions or methods) that the objects created from it will have. You can think of a class as a template, and the objects are instances of that template.
Example: A class called Car might define properties like color and model, and methods like drive() that describe what a car can do.
fr: classe
collection
noun
A collection in computer science is a data structure that stores multiple items or elements, which can be of the same or different data types
Example: The collection fruits contains several elements, such as 'Apple', 'Banana', and 'Orange', that can be accessed or modified.
fr: collection
condition
noun
A condition in programming is an expression or statement that evaluates to either true or false, helping to control the flow of the program. Conditions are used with control structures like if, else, and while to make decisions based on different inputs or states.
Example: The condition " age >= 18 " checks if a person is an adult before allowing them to enter the website.
fr: condition
constructor
noun
A constructor is a special type of method in a class that is automatically called when an object of that class is created. It is used to initialize the object's properties with specific values when the object is created.
Example: The constructor of the Car class initializes the object's color and model when a new car is created.
fr: constructeur
data type
noun
A classification that specifies which kind of value a variable can hold. It defines the operations that can be performed on the variable, the kind of data it can store, and the amount of memory it occupies.
Example: In Java, int is a data type used to store integer values.
fr: type de données
exception
noun
An exception in computer science refers to an event or error that occurs during the execution of a program, disrupting its normal flow
Example: An exception occurs when the program tries to divide by zero, and it must be handled to prevent the program from crashing.
fr: exception
function
noun
A block of code that performs a specific task and can be reused multiple times.
Example: The sum() function adds two numbers together.
fr: fonction
interface
noun
An interface in computer science is a contract or blueprint that defines a set of abstract methods that a class must implement. It allows different classes to communicate with each other, ensuring they follow a specific structure without dictating how the methods are executed.
Example: The interface "Animal" defines the sound() method, which must be implemented by any class that is considered an Animal.
fr: interface
loop
noun
A loop is a programming construct that repeats a block of code multiple times based on a condition or a set of conditions. It is used to automate repetitive tasks in programs. Example the loop for .
Example: The loop in the program allows the computer to print the numbers from 0 to 4 repeatedly without needing to write the print statement multiple times.
fr: boucle
method
noun
A function defined within a class that operates on the data of an object.
Example: The drive() method makes the car move
fr: méthode
object
noun
An object in computer science is a collection of data (often called properties or attributes) and actions (called methods or functions) that are grouped together.
Example: An object of the Car class represents a specific car.
fr: objet
operator
noun
An operator in computer science is a symbol or function that performs an operation on one or more operands (values or variables). Operators are used to perform various operations like arithmetic, logical, and comparison operations.
Example: The + operator in the program is used to add the values of two variables together.
fr: opérateur
variable
noun
A container for storing data values that can change during program execution.
Example: The variable "x" stores the value of the user's input.