<!-- Generated from applied-computing-au vic/unit3-4/sat/C06-2026/C06-essential-terms.md by port-reference-godot-to-wiki.py — do not hand-edit; re-run the port. --> # Essential Terms — C06 The Hamilton and Alexandra College · Year 12 · 2026 A glossary of every term you need to recognise and use correctly across C06. Click a term to expand its definition. The C06 pages — and the feedback graded against them — use these words, so learn them in the language the rubric uses. ```mermaid flowchart TD R["C06 vocabulary<br/>66 terms"] R --> G0["Language and execution<br/>8 terms"] R --> G1["Operators<br/>3 terms"] R --> G2["Control structures<br/>11 terms"] R --> G3["Variables and constants<br/>5 terms"] R --> G4["Data types<br/>6 terms"] R --> G5["Data structures<br/>7 terms"] R --> G6["Data sources<br/>8 terms"] R --> G7["Functions and methods<br/>10 terms"] R --> G8["OOP features<br/>8 terms"] ``` *Where the C06 vocabulary sits, and how much of it is in each group — the 9 sections below follow the same order. Revise the heavy groups first.* --- ## Language and execution >| ### compiler >| A program that turns source code into machine language that can be executed by a computer processor. >| ### event >| A special type of method that is called when an object's state changes. >| ### flow of execution >| The order in which instructions, conditions, and iterations are executed or evaluated. >| ### graphical user interface (GUI) >| A type of user interface that allows users to interact through visual elements such as windows, icons, and buttons. >| ### hard-coding >| To include fixed data in a program that cannot be changed during runtime and can only be changed by modifying the program source code. >| ### instruction >| A unit of code that can be executed by a compiler or interpreter. >| ### interpreter >| A computer program that directly executes source code without needing to have it compiled beforehand. >| ### prolog >| The information in an XML file that appears before the start of the document's contents, including information such as the XML version and character encoding that is being used. --- ## Operators >| ### arithmetic operator >| A symbol in programming that performs basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. >| ### conditional operator >| A symbol used to compare two values within a condition, such as equals (`==`), not equals (`!=`), greater than (`>`), less than (`<`), greater than or equal to (`>=`), or less than or equal to (`<=`). Used inside selection and iteration conditions to decide whether a branch runs or a loop continues. (Not to be confused with the ternary conditional *expression*, e.g. `x if condition else y` in Python — that's shorthand for an if/else selection, not a comparison.) >| ### logical operator >| A Boolean operator used to combine expressions, such as AND, OR. --- ## Control structures >| ### alternative execution >| Code that is run if a condition is not met. >| ### chained selection >| A selection structure with more than one condition checked in sequence (e.g. `if` / `elif` / `elif` / `else`), where each branch can test a different condition. Execution stops at the first branch whose condition is true. >| ### DO/WHILE >| An iteration over a set of instructions, conditions, and/or iterations that is repeated for as long as a condition is met; it is always run at least once. >| ### FOR >| An iteration over a set of instructions that is repeated a predefined number of times. >| ### infinite loop >| An iteration that will never reach the condition upon which it can terminate. >| ### nested selection >| When a selection contains one or more additional conditions within its structure. >| ### REPEAT/UNTIL >| An iteration over a set of instructions that is repeated for as long as a condition is not met; it will always execute at least once. >| ### selection statement >| A control structure that allows a programmer to write lines of code that are only run when a particular requirement is met. >| ### sequence >| A set of instructions that executes line by line in the order that it is written. >| ### switch/case >| A selection structure that compares a single value or expression against a list of specific possible values (cases), running the matching branch's code (e.g. `match`/`case` in Python, `switch`/`case` in TypeScript). Unlike chained selection, every case tests the *same* expression for equality against a different value, rather than evaluating independent conditions per branch. >| ### WHILE >| An iteration over a set of instructions that is repeated for as long as a condition is met. --- ## Variables and constants >| ### casting >| Converting a variable from one data type to another, such as converting a string to an integer. >| ### constant >| A fixed value that, once defined, cannot be altered during the execution of a program. >| ### global variables >| Variables that are defined outside any function and can be accessed by all functions throughout the source code. >| ### local variables >| Variables that are defined inside a function that can only be accessed by that function. >| ### variable >| A method of storing and labelling data to be referenced and manipulated in a computer program. --- ## Data types >| ### Boolean >| A data type with one of two possible values, 0 and 1, usually referred to as False and True, respectively. >| ### character >| A data type representing any single meaningful unit, such as a letter, a number, a punctuation mark, a symbol or even a space. >| ### data type >| A method of classifying a variable to determine the data that variable can contain, as well as how that variable can be manipulated. >| ### floating point >| Computer representation of real numbers, with decimal places. >| ### integer >| A data type representing whole positive and negative numbers. >| ### numeric >| A data type consisting of whole numbers, referred to as integers, and decimal numbers, referred to as floating points. --- ## Data structures >| ### array >| A list of elements indexed by position. In most programming languages, the first element has index zero. >| ### data structure >| A method of organising data to allow particular operations to be performed on it efficiently. >| ### dimension >| The direction or the level of organisation within a data structure, such as an array. >| ### field >| A single data item in a record (e.g. FamilyName). >| ### record >| A complete set of fields relating to an entity, such as a person. >| ### tree >| The structure of an XML file that contains a root element and all of its sub-elements. >| ### two-dimensional array >| A data structure that stores elements in a grid-like format, organised into rows and columns, allowing access using two indices. --- ## Data sources >| ### child element >| Any sub-element of a parent element in an XML file. >| ### CSV >| A comma-separated value file, which is a delimited file separated by commas. >| ### delimiter >| The character used to separate data values in a delimited file. >| ### parent element >| Any element in an XML file that contains at least one sub-element. >| ### plain text (TXT) file >| A structured file that contains characters of readable data. >| ### root element >| A parent element to all other elements in an XML file. >| ### text file >| A structured file containing sequences of characters that are not encrypted, such as a plain text file or CSV file. >| ### XML >| Extensible Markup Language; a metalanguage that allows for user-defined tags and rules for encoding documents in a format that is readable by humans and machines. --- ## Functions and methods >| ### arguments >| Specific inputs passed into a function that act as local, temporary variables. >| ### function >| A sequence of related code that has been given a name that can be called from other points in the source code. >| ### function call >| To execute the contents of a function. >| ### function declaration >| To name a function and its arguments. >| ### function definition >| To define (write) the contents of a function. >| ### method >| An action an object can carry out (e.g., window.refresh, golfClub.swing). >| ### parameters >| The named variables listed in a function's definition that receive the arguments passed in when the function is called; inside the function they act as local variables. The values supplied at the call are the arguments. >| ### pass by reference >| To pass data into a function as an argument so that it can be modified without needing to be returned. >| ### pass by value >| To pass data into a function as an argument so that it cannot be modified without needing to be returned. >| ### return value >| A value or set of values that is passed back to the origin of a calling function, often to be assigned to a variable, used in an equation, or tested within a conditional statement. --- ## OOP features >| ### abstraction >| An object-oriented programming language principle that allows programmers to manage complexity by hiding implementation details and exposing only the essential features of an object. >| ### class >| A program code template for creating objects in object-oriented programming languages. >| ### encapsulation >| An object-oriented programming principle that involves bundling the data and methods that operate on the data into a single unit or class. >| ### generalization >| The process of defining a general class (superclass) that encapsulates common attributes and behaviors of more specific classes (subclasses). >| ### inheritance >| A method of basing an object or class on another object or class, taking on its attributes and methods and potentially extending upon them. >| ### instantiation >| In object-oriented programming, the process by which an object is created from a class. >| ### object >| Any instantiated class that a program can inspect and/or change, in terms of appearance, behavior, or data. >| ### object-oriented programming (OOP) >| A programming language based on the concept of objects that contain data in the form of fields or attributes and code in the form of methods. --- ## See also - [C06 home page](/sd/C06/C06-home) — everything else for this criterion