Programming Fundamentals
In programming, this stores a value that can change while a program is running.
What is a variable?
This data structure stores elements in an ordered sequence and allows them to be accessed using an index.
What is an array?
This algorithm searches through a list one element at a time until it finds what it is looking for.
What is linear search?
This component executes instructions and performs calculations for a computer.
What is the CPU?
This protocol is commonly used to retrieve web pages from a server.
What is HTTP?
This programming structure repeatedly executes a block of code while a condition is true.
What is a loop?
This data structure follows the principle of “Last In, First Out.”
What is a stack?
This algorithm can search a sorted list in O(log n) time by repeatedly cutting the search space in half.
What is binary search?
Unlike a hard drive or SSD, this type of memory loses its contents when the computer is turned off.
What is RAM?
What is the output?
x = 10
x = x + 5
print(x)
What is 15?
This data structure follows the principle of “First In, First Out,” like people waiting in a line.
What is a queue?
Which has the better Big-O complexity for searching a sorted array: linear search or binary search?
What is binary search?
This component is designed specifically to perform large numbers of parallel calculations and is commonly used for graphics and machine learning.
What is a GPU?
This number identifies a device on a network and commonly looks like 192.168.1.10 in IPv4.
What is an IP address?
What is the output?
x = 3
if x > 5:
print("A")
elif x > 2:
print("B")
else:
print("C")
What is B?
You need to frequently add and remove elements from both ends of a collection. Which data structure would be particularly appropriate?
What is a deque (double-ended queue)?
An algorithm takes 1 second to process 100 items using O(n²) operations. Ignoring constant factors, approximately how long would you expect it to take for 200 items?
What is 4 seconds?
A program has 4 GB of RAM available but attempts to use more memory than that. The operating system can use this technique to temporarily move memory data to storage.
What is virtual memory?
You type a website's domain name into your browser. Before your computer can communicate with the server, it generally needs to determine the server's IP address. What system helps accomplish this?
What is DNS?
A loop runs once for every element in a list. Inside that loop, another loop also runs once for every element in the same list. If the list contains n elements, what is the approximate time complexity?
What is O(n²)?
You need to repeatedly check whether a username exists in a collection, and you want average-case constant-time lookup. Which data structure would be a strong choice?
What is a hash table/hash map?
You have an unsorted array and need to find its largest value. What is the best possible Big-O time complexity for this task?
What is O(n)?
A CPU has 8 cores. Does that automatically mean a single-threaded program will run 8 times faster? Explain why or why not.
No. A single-threaded program generally cannot take full advantage of all 8 cores; multiple cores are most useful when work can be performed in parallel.
HTTPS is essentially HTTP combined with this security protocol, which encrypts data transmitted between a browser and a server.
What is TLS (Transport Layer Security)?