Variables
What is a Variable and an Array?
Variable: A placeholder for a piece of information that can change.
Array: A data structure in JavaScript used to represent a list.
What is a Boolean/Boolean Expression?
A single value of either TRUE or FALSE
What is an Event-handling and Event-driven program?
Event-handling: an overarching term for the coding tasks involved in making a program respond to events by triggering functions.
Event-driven program: A program designed to run blocks of code or functions in response to specified events (e.g. a mouse click).
What are UI Elements?
on-screen objects, like buttons, images, text boxes, pull down menus, screens and so on.
What is debugging?
Finding and fixing problems in an algorithm or program.
What is a List and a String?
List: A generic term for a programming data structure that holds multiple items.
String: Any sequence of characters between quotation marks (ex: "hello", "42", "this is a string!").
What is a Condition?
Statements that only run under certain conditions.
What does Iterate signify?
To repeat in order to achieve, or get closer to, a desired goal.
What is an "Event Listener"?
a command that can be set up to trigger a function when a particular type of event occurs on a particular UI element.
What is the difference between an event and a key event?
Event: An action that causes something to happen
Key event: An event triggered by pressing or releasing a key on the keyboard./An event that's triggered by pressing or releasing a key on the keyboard (ex. "keyup", "keydown")
What is a "Global Variable"?
A variable whose scope is "global" to the program, it can be used and updated by any part of the code. Its global scope is typically derived from the variable being declared (created) outside of any function, object, or method.
What is an "If-Statement"?
The common programming structure that implements "conditional statements".
What is a callback function?
a function specified as part of an event listener; it is written by the programmer but called by the system as the result of an event trigger.
What does "User Interface" mean?
The visual elements of a program through which a user controls or communicates with the application. Often abbreviated UI.
What does Concatenate signify?
to link together or join. Typically used when joining together text Strings in programming (e.g. "Hello, "+name)
What is a "Local Variable"?
A variable with local scope is one that can only be seen, used, and updated by code within the same scope. Typically this means the variable was declared (created) inside a function -- includes function parameter variables.
What does "==" mean in terms of coding?
The equality operator (sometimes read: "equal equal") is used to compare two values, and returns a Boolean (true/false). Avoid confusion with the assignment operator "=",
What's the difference between "while loop" and "for loop"?
while loop: a programming construct used to repeat a set of commands (loop) as long as (while) a boolean condition is true.
for loop: A typical looping construct designed to make it easy to repeat a section of code using a counter variable. The for loop combines the creation of a variable, a boolean looping condition, and an update to the variable in one statement.
How do "Canvas" work?
a user interface element to use in HTML/JavaScript which acts as a digital canvas, allowing the programmatic drawing and manipulation of pixels, basic shapes, figures and images.
what are "Models and Simulations"?
a program that replicates or mimics key features of a real-world event in order to investigate its behavior without the cost, time, or danger of running an experiment in real life.
What is "data type" and a "Variable Scope"?
Data Type: All values in a programming language have a "type" - such as a Number, Boolean, or String - that dictates how the computer will interpret it. For example 7+5 is interpreted differently from "7"+"5"
Variable Scope: dictates what portions of the code can "see" or use a variable, typically derived from where the variable was first created.
What is a "selection"?
A generic term for a type of programming statement (usually an if-statement) that uses a Boolean condition to determine, or select, whether or not to run a certain block of statements.
What is a "Return Value"?
A value sent back by a function to the place in the code where the function was called form - typically asking for value (e.g. getText(id)) or the result of a calculation or computation of some kind. Most programming languages have many built-in functions that return values, but you can also write your own.
BONUS!!
What are "Expressions"?
Any valid unit of code that resolves to a value.
BONUS!!
What is a "Selection"?
A generic term for a type of programming statement (usually an if-statement) that uses a Boolean condition to determine, or select, whether or not to run a certain block of statements.