Learning Coding: A Glossary of Basic Terms

Publication date: July 31, 2024

Learning to code can be like learning a new language. The terminology may seem daunting at first, but understanding these basic terms will set you on the path to becoming a proficient coder.

Here’s a glossary of some essential coding terms to get you started:

1. Algorithm

Definition: An algorithm is a step-by-step set of operations or instructions designed to perform a specific task or solve a problem.

Sentence: “The search engine uses an algorithm to rank web pages based on relevance.” Explanation: The search engine follows a specific set of rules to decide which web pages to show first.

2. Bug

Definition: A bug is an error or flaw in a computer program that causes it to produce an incorrect or unintended result.

Sentence: “The software crashed due to a bug in the code.” Explanation: The program stopped working properly because there was a mistake in the code.

3. Code

Definition: Code refers to the written instructions in a programming language that a computer can execute.

Sentence: “She spent hours writing code for her new app.” Explanation: She was creating instructions for the computer to follow to make her application work.

4. Compiler

Definition: A compiler is a special program that translates code written in a high-level programming language into machine code that a computer’s processor can execute.

Sentence: “The compiler converted the program into an executable file.” Explanation: The special program changed the written instructions into a format the computer could run.

5. Function

Definition: A function is a reusable block of code designed to perform a specific task.

Sentence: “We created a function to calculate the total price.” Explanation: We made a reusable piece of code that figures out the total cost.

6. Loop

Definition: A loop is a sequence of instructions that repeats until a certain condition is met.

Sentence: “The loop runs until all items in the list are processed.” Explanation: The repeated instructions continue to run until every item in the list has been handled.

7. Variable

Definition: A variable is a storage location identified by a name, used to store data that can be modified during program execution.

Sentence: “The variable ‘score’ keeps track of the player’s points.” Explanation: The storage location named ‘score’ holds the player’s points and can change as the game goes on.

8. Array

Definition: An array is a collection of elements, typically of the same data type, stored in contiguous memory locations.

Sentence: “We stored the list of student names in an array.” Explanation: We saved all the student names in a single collection that the program can easily access.

9. Class

Definition: A class is a blueprint for creating objects in object-oriented programming.

Sentence: “We defined a class for all employee records.” Explanation: We created a template to represent employee information in our program.

10. Object

Definition: An object is an instance of a class that contains data and methods to manipulate that data.

Sentence: “Each customer is represented as an object in the system.” Explanation: Every customer is an individual example based on the template (class) in the program.

11. IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

Definition: An IDE is a software application that provides comprehensive facilities to programmers for software development.

Sentence: “She uses an IDE to write and test her code efficiently.” Explanation: She uses a special software tool that helps her write and check her code quickly.

12. Syntax

Definition: Syntax refers to the set of rules that define the structure and composition of statements in a programming language.

Sentence: “A syntax error means there’s a mistake in how the code is written.” Explanation: An error in the rules for writing code means the computer can’t understand the instructions.

13. API (Application Programming Interface)

Definition: An API is a set of protocols and tools that allows different software applications to communicate with each other.

Sentence: “We used an API to connect our app with the payment gateway.” Explanation: We used a set of rules to make our app work with the system that handles payments.

14. Framework

Definition: A framework is a platform for developing software applications, providing a foundation of pre-written code.

Sentence: “The team used a web development framework to build the site quickly.” Explanation: The team used a pre-built platform to create the website faster.

15. Git

Definition: Git is a version control system used to track changes in source code during software development.

Sentence: “Using Git, we can track all changes made to the project.” Explanation: Git helps us keep a record of every change made to our code.

16. Repository

Definition: A repository is a storage location for software packages and version-controlled code.

Sentence: “The project’s code is stored in a GitHub repository.” Explanation: We save the code for the project in a special place on GitHub where we can manage changes.

17. Script

Definition: A script is a short program written in a scripting language to automate tasks.

Sentence: “The script automates the backup process.” Explanation: The short program automatically handles saving copies of data.

18. Library

Definition: A library is a collection of pre-written code that developers can use to optimize tasks.

Sentence: “We used a graphics library to handle the image processing.” Explanation: We used pre-made code to help with working on images in our program.

19. Database

Definition: A database is an organised collection of data stored and accessed electronically.

Sentence: “Customer information is stored in a secure database.” Explanation: The program saves all customer data in a structured way for easy access.

20. Front-End & Back-End

Definition: Front-end refers to the part of a web application that users interact with directly, while back-end refers to the server-side logic that processes and manages data.

Sentence: “The front-end displays the user interface, while the back-end handles the data processing.” Explanation: The part of the program users see and interact with is the front-end, and the part that works behind the scenes with data is the back-end.

Understanding these basic terms is the first step towards mastering coding. As you delve deeper into programming, you’ll encounter many more concepts and terms, but this glossary will give you a solid foundation to build upon. For your next step, why not browse our repository and find the perfect resource to start or to continue your coding journey.  Happy coding!

 

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