Terms and definitions from Course 7

A 
 Algorithm: A set of rules that solve a problem 
 
 Argument (Python): The data brought into a function when it is called 
 Automation: The use of technology to reduce human and manual effort to perform common and repetitive tasks 
 B 
 Boolean data: Data that can only be one of two values: either True or False 
 Bracket notation: The indices placed in square brackets  
 Built-in function: A function that exists within Python and can be called directly 
 C 
 Command-line interface: A text-based user interface that uses commands to interact with the computer 
 Comment: A note programmers make about the intention behind their code 
 Conditional statement: A statement that evaluates code to determine if it meets a specified set of conditions 
 D 
 Data type: A category for a particular type of data item 
 Debugger: A software tool that helps to locate the source of an error and assess its causes 
 Debugging: The practice of identifying and fixing errors in code 
 Dictionary data: Data that consists of one or more key-value pairs 
 E 
 Exception: An error that involves code that cannot be executed even though it is syntactically correct 
 F 
 File path: The location of a file or directory  
 Float data: Data consisting of a number with a decimal point 
 Function: A section of code that can be reused in a program 
 G 
 Global variable: A variable that is available through the entire program 
 I 
 Immutable: An object that cannot be changed after it is created and assigned a value 
 Indentation: Space added at the beginning of a line of code 
 Index: A number assigned to every element in a sequence that indicates its position 
 Integer data: Data consisting of a number that does not include a decimal point 
 Integrated development environment (IDE): A software application for writing code that provides editing assistance and error correction tools 
 Interpreter: A computer program that translates Python code into runnable instructions line by line   
 Iterative statement: Code that repeatedly executes a set of instructions 
 L 
 Library: A collection of modules that provide code users can access in their programs 
 List concatenation: The concept of combining two lists into one by placing the elements of the second list directly after the elements of the first list 
 List data: Data structure that consists of a collection of data in sequential form 
 Local variable: A variable assigned within a function 
 Log: A record of events that occur within an organization's systems 
 Logic error: An error that results when the logic used in code produces unintended results 
 Loop variable: A variable that is used to control the iterations of a loop 
 M 
 Method: A function that belongs to a specific data type 
 Module : A Python file that contains additional functions, variables, classes, and any kind of runnable code 
 N 
 Notebook: An online interface for writing, storing, and running code  
 P 
 Parameter (Python): An object that is included in a function definition for use in that function 
 Parsing: The process of converting data into a more readable format 
 PEP 8 style guide: A resource that provides stylistic guidelines for programmers working in Python  
 Programming: A process that can be used to create a specific set of instructions for a computer to execute tasks 
 Python Standard Library: An extensive collection of Python code that often comes packaged with Python 
 R 
 Regular expression (regex): A sequence of characters that forms a pattern 
 Return statement: A Python statement that executes inside a function and sends information back to the function call   
 S 
 Set data: Data that consists of an unordered collection of unique values 
 String concatenation: The process of joining two strings together 
 String data: Data consisting of an ordered sequence of characters 
 Style guide: A manual that informs the writing, formatting, and design of documents 
 Substring: A continuous sequence of characters within a string 
 Syntax: The rules that determine what is correctly structured in a computing language 
 Syntax error: An error that involves invalid usage of a programming language 
 T 
 Tuple data: Data structure that consists of a collection of data that cannot be changed 
 Type error: An error that results from using the wrong data type 
 U 
 User-defined function: A function that programmers design for their specific needs 
 V 
 Variable: A container that stores data