Glossary

abstraction (process) - the act of selecting and capturing relevant information about a thing, a system or a problem.

abstraction (product) - a representation of a thing, a system or a problem that contains only selected (relevant) details about it; for example, a diagram is an abstraction.

algorithm - a set of unambiguous rules or instructions to achieve a particular objective.

array - a data structure comprising a collection of values of the same type, accessible through an index.

assembly code - a human-readable programming language in which each instruction corresponds to a single executable instruction for a CPU.

binary - a method of encoding data using two symbols, 1 and 0.

binary number - a number written in the base 2 number system.

bit - a basic unit of data that stores one binary value, 1 or 0.

bitmap - a collection of pixels forming an image.

Boolean - a data type with only two values, TRUE or FALSE.

browser cookie - a small piece of text recording activity about websites you visit, stored on your computer.

circuit - a grouping of electronic components that allow for operations to be performed.

code - any set of instructions expressed in a programming language.

coding - the act of writing computer programs in a programming language.

colour depth - the number of different colours that may be used in an image, dictated by the number of bits used to represent the colour of each pixel.

compiler - a program that converts programs written in one language (source code) into equivalent programs written in a different language (often in the form of instructions that a processor can execute).

computational thinking - a philosophy that underpins computing through decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, pattern generalisation and algorithm design.

CPU - central processing unit; the device within a computer that executes instructions.

data structure - a particular way to store and organise data within a computer program.

debugging - the process of finding and correcting errors in programs.

decimal - the base 10 number system.

decomposition - breaking a problem or system down into its components.

digital - using discrete binary values.

digital artefact - digital content made by a human with intent and skill.

digital creator - a person who makes digital artefacts.

digital media - media encoded in a computer readable form.

hardware - the physical components that make up a computer.

HTML - hypertext mark-up language; the language used to create web pages.

input (noun) - an input is a data value passed from the outside world to a computer.

input (verb) - to input is to send data from the outside world into a computer system.

Internet - a network of interconnected networks.

interpreter - a program that converts instructions written in one language into equivalent instructions in another language, and executes each instruction as soon as it is translated.

IP address - Internet Protocol address; a unique numeric value that is assigned to a computer or other device connected to the Internet so that it may be identified and located.

lists - a data structure for storing ordered values.

model - a representation of (some part of) a problem or a system.

modelling - the act of creating a model.

modular design - the practice of designing a system or program as a set of independent but interacting units (modules) that may be implemented and tested separately before bringing them together to solve the overall problem.

network - more precisely, a computer network; a collection of computational devices (personal computers, phones, servers, switches, routers, and so on) connected to one another by cables or by wireless media, and arranged so that data may be sent between devices either directly or via other devices.

operating system - a set of programs that manage the functioning of, and other programs' access to, hardware.

output (noun) - a response from a system.

output (verb) - to generate an output.

packet - more precisely, a network packet. A formatted unit of data for transmission across a network. Each packet contains part of a message plus some additional data, including where it is from and where it is going.

pixel - the smallest controllable element of picture/display.

process (noun) - a process is a running program.

process (verb) - the act of using data to perform a calculation or other operation.

program - a set of instructions that the computer executes in order to achieve a particular objective.

programming - the craft of analysing problems and designing, writing, testing and maintaining programs to solve them.

programming language - formal language used to give a computer instructions.

repetition - the process of repeating a task a set number of times or until a condition is met.

resolution - a measurement of the number of pixels needed to display an image.

router - more precisely, a network router. A router is a device that connects networks to one another (typically one or more local area networks (LANs) to a wide area network (WAN)), and directs packets between networks. A home broadband router performs the functions of a switch while allowing computers to connect to the Internet.

selection - using conditions to control the flow of a program.

sequence (noun) - an ordered set of instructions.

sequence (verb) - to arrange a set of instructions in a particular order.

server - a computer or program dedicated to a particular set of tasks that provides services to other computers or programs on a network.

software - the programs that run on the hardware/computer system.

switch - more precisely, a network switch. This is a device that connects multiple computers to one another on a single local area network (LAN), and directs packets from machine to machine.

table - a data type storing organised sets of data under column headings.

Unicode - a standardised system for representing individual characters as sequences of bits.

variable - a data store used in a program.

web browser - a computer program to view websites.

World Wide Web - a service made of connected hypertext documents linked together across the Internet.