2.2 Programming Fundamentals

Setting the initial value for a variable.

An identifier associated with an area of computer memory in which data is stored. The data can change during program execution.

The order. A set of instructions that will be carried out, one after the other, in the stated order.

An identifier associated with an area of computer memory in which data is stored. The data CANNOT change during program execution.

A program control structure with a logical test, or sequence of tests, that evaluate(s) to True or False. It allows subsequent statements to be run selectively depending on the outcome of the test(s).

An expression that evaluates to True or False (such as within an ‘if’ statement)

Multiple statements take the form of else if and act as additional conditions that are checked in the order in which they are written in the selection block

Combination of variables, constants, values, or operators that is evaluated to produce a result.

A sequence of instructions that is repeated. This can be a fixed number of repetitions (count-controlled loop) or the number of repetitions can be controlled by a condition (condition-controlled loop)

A whole number, such as 5. It can be positive or negative.

A division where the quotient (result) is an integer and any remainders are discarded. The operator is often represented by the abbreviation DIV or in Python it uses the // sign.

An operation that returns the remainder of a division. The modulo operator is often represented by the abbreviation MOD or in Python it uses the % sign.

Real is also referred to as float. Real numbers include numbers with decimal places. A real number can be positive or negative.

The Boolean data type is based on logic and can have one of only two values, True or False

Char refers to a single character. The character can be any letter, digit or symbol

The string data type refers to text. A string is a collection of characters and includes spaces, punctuation, numeric digits and any other symbols. The numeric digits would be handled as text characters, not integers.

A null value is used to indicate ‘nothing’; the lack of any value, of any type of data.

An attribute of a data item that determines the values that can be stored and the operations that can be carried out on that data item. Examples include string, character, integer, float (real) and Boolean.

Changing the data type of a piece of data. For example, converting a string to an integer using int()

Joining two or more strings together to make a new string.

A number that describes the position of an item within an array. Starts at zero for the first item.

A part of a string.

A named block of code that performs a task and returns one or more values.

A named section of code that can be called (executed) to perform a specific task by using the identifier (name of the procedure) in a program statement. It does not return a value.