| Asynchronous |
Operations that execute independently of the main program flow, enabling non-blocking behavior, often implemented with callbacks, promises, or events. |
| Algorithm |
Step-by-step procedure or set of rules for solving a problem or performing a computation. |
| API |
Application Programming Interface; a defined set of functions and protocols for building software components. |
| Compiler |
Tool that translates source code from a high-level language into machine code. |
| CPU |
Central Processing Unit; the primary chip that executes instructions and performs calculations. |
| Data Structure |
Organized format for storing and managing data (e.g., arrays, lists, trees, hash tables). |
| Debugging |
Process of identifying, isolating, and fixing bugs or defects in software. |
| Framework |
Reusable software platform providing predefined structures and conventions for application development. |
| Functional Programming |
Paradigm treating computation as the evaluation of mathematical functions and avoiding state and mutable data. |
| Function |
Self-contained block of code designed to perform a specific task, often with inputs (parameters) and outputs (return values). |
| GPU |
Graphics Processing Unit; a specialized processor optimized for parallel computations, especially graphics rendering. |
| HDD |
Hard Disk Drive; magnetic storage device for persistent data. |
| IDE |
Integrated Development Environment; software suite combining editor, compiler/interpreter, debugger, and other tools. |
| I/O |
Input/Output; operations that transfer data between the computer system and external devices or components, such as disks, network interfaces, or user input devices. |
| Interpreter |
Tool that executes source code line-by-line without producing a standalone binary. |
| Kernel Object |
Operating system–managed object representing resources such as processes, threads, files, or synchronization primitives. |
| Library |
Collection of prewritten code that developers can call to perform common tasks. |
| Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) |
Programming paradigm based on the concept of “objects” that contain data and methods. |
| Operating System |
System software that manages hardware resources and provides services to applications. |
| RAM |
Random Access Memory; volatile memory used to store data and program code currently in use. |
| ROM |
Read-Only Memory; non-volatile storage containing firmware or permanent system code. |
| SSD |
Solid State Drive; flash-based non-volatile storage offering faster access than HDDs. |
| Synchronous |
Operations that execute sequentially in a blocking manner, each task must complete before the next begins. |
| Variable |
Named storage location in memory that holds a value which may change during program execution. |
| Version Control |
System for tracking changes to files and coordinating work among multiple people (e.g., Git). |
| Virtual Memory |
Memory management technique that uses disk storage to extend RAM, providing processes with their own virtual address space and enabling paging and swapping. |