BFOIT - Introduction to Computer Programming

Appendix A (Jargon)

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parameter

Formal parameter is the term used to identify input variables that are used inside the body of a Java method or a jLogo procedure.  In Java, parameter declarations are part of a method's header.  In jLogo, parameter declarations are part of a procedure's header, its to phrase.  In jLogo, parameters are also known as inputs.

Parameter declarations specify what stuff is expected when a method or procedure is invoked.

primitive type

In Java, all fields and methods are declared to be of a specific type.  Types are either primitive types or reference types.  The primitive types are:

Keyword Values
boolean literals: true, false
byte -128 .. 127
char 0 .. 65535
short -32768 .. 32767
int -2147483648 .. 2147483647
long -9223372036854775808 .. 9223372036854775807 
float single-precision 32-bit IEEE 754 values
double double-precision 64-bit IEEE 754 values

pseudocode
Pseudocode is a term used to refer to an early stage representation of an algorithm, a computer program or piece of one.  It consists of expressions in a native language, English for example, that describe the ordered set of steps that make up the piece of a program you are writing.  The purpose is to use this representation as an outline or a model of what you need to do - without worrying about the details.


Other jargon:  A   B   C   D   E   F  G H  I   J  K  L   M  N  O   P  Q  R   S   T  U  V   W  X Y Z

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This work (BFOIT: Introduction to Computer Programming, by Guy M. Haas),
identified by Berkeley Foundation for Opportunities in IT (BFOIT),
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