AP Computer Science Principles Vocabulary /
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Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers)
Terms in this set (18)
Binary Search A search algorithm that locates the position of a target
value within a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the
search interval in half; can only be used when the list is
sorted. Because of its divide-andconquer approach, the
amount of work required to find an item grows much more
slowly with Binary Search than with Sequential Search. In
fact, with this logarithmic behavior
Boolean Function* Any function based on the operations AND, OR, and
NOT, and whose elements are from the domain of Boolean
algebra. A function whose arguments, as well as the function
itself, assume values from a twoelement set (usually {0,1})
Central Processing Unit CPU, or processor, is the brains of the computer where most
calculations take place. Contains the circuitry necessary to
interpret and execute program instructions.
Computational Artifact Something created by a human using a computer and can be,
but is not limited to, a program, an image, an audio, a video, a
presentation, or web page file
Cryptography The science of coding and decoding messages in order to
keep them secure. Coding takes place using a key that
ideally is known only by the sender and intended recipient
of the message.
, As the name implies, floating point numbers are numbers that
contain floating decimal points.
Floating Point Numbers Examples include, the numbers 5.5, 0.001, and -2,345.6789.
Numbers without decimal places are called integers.
Computers recognize real numbers that contain fractions as
floating point numbers.
Hexadecimal Hexadecimal describes a base-16 number system. That is, it
describes a numbering system containing 16 sequential
numbers as base units (including 0) before adding a new
position for the next number. The hexadecimal numbers are 0-
9 and then use the letters A-F. Used to represent digital data
because it utilizes fewer digits than binary.
Integers An integer is a whole number (not a fraction) that can be
positive, negative, or zero. In computer science, an integer is
a datum of integral data type, a data type that represents
some finite subset of the mathematical integers. Integral
data types may be of different sizes and may or may not be
allowed to contain negative values.
Iterations Iteration is the repetition of part of an algorithm until a
condition is met or for a specified number of times. This is
often called a 'loop'. Recursive functions repeatedly execute
themselves as part of their operation. Upon completing all
instructions and resetting to the first one iteration has been
completed.
, Libraries In computer science, a library is a collection of nonvolatile
resources that a program can use often to develop software.
Libraries are particularly useful for storing frequently used
routines because you do not need to explicitly link them to
every program that uses them. The linker automatically looks
in libraries for routines that it does not find elsewhere.
Resources which may be found in libraries include data,
documentation, message templates, pre-written code, classes,
or values.
A process that checks every element in the list sequentially
until the desired element is found or all elements have been
Linear/Sequential Search
searched. Can be used in any type of list. Has linear
performance.
Lossless Data With lossless compression, every single bit of data that was
Compression originally in the file remains after the file is uncompressed.
All of the information is completely restored. This is
generally the technique of choice for text or spreadsheet
files, where the loss of words or financial data could pose a
problem. PNG is an image format that provides lossless
compression.
Lossy Data Compression Lossy compression reduces a file by permanently eliminating
certain information, especially redundant information.
When the file is uncompressed, only a part of the original
information is still there (although the user may not notice
it). Lossy compression is generally used for video and sound,
where a certain amount of information loss will not be
detected by most users. JPEG provides lossy compression.
Metadata is data that describes other data. Metadata
summarizes basic information about data, which can make
Metadata finding and working with particular instances of data easier. It
provides information concerning an item's content such as
image resolution and size.
Newest 2025 Actual Exam 120+ Questions and
Correct Detailed Answers (Verified Answers)
Terms in this set (18)
Binary Search A search algorithm that locates the position of a target
value within a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the
search interval in half; can only be used when the list is
sorted. Because of its divide-andconquer approach, the
amount of work required to find an item grows much more
slowly with Binary Search than with Sequential Search. In
fact, with this logarithmic behavior
Boolean Function* Any function based on the operations AND, OR, and
NOT, and whose elements are from the domain of Boolean
algebra. A function whose arguments, as well as the function
itself, assume values from a twoelement set (usually {0,1})
Central Processing Unit CPU, or processor, is the brains of the computer where most
calculations take place. Contains the circuitry necessary to
interpret and execute program instructions.
Computational Artifact Something created by a human using a computer and can be,
but is not limited to, a program, an image, an audio, a video, a
presentation, or web page file
Cryptography The science of coding and decoding messages in order to
keep them secure. Coding takes place using a key that
ideally is known only by the sender and intended recipient
of the message.
, As the name implies, floating point numbers are numbers that
contain floating decimal points.
Floating Point Numbers Examples include, the numbers 5.5, 0.001, and -2,345.6789.
Numbers without decimal places are called integers.
Computers recognize real numbers that contain fractions as
floating point numbers.
Hexadecimal Hexadecimal describes a base-16 number system. That is, it
describes a numbering system containing 16 sequential
numbers as base units (including 0) before adding a new
position for the next number. The hexadecimal numbers are 0-
9 and then use the letters A-F. Used to represent digital data
because it utilizes fewer digits than binary.
Integers An integer is a whole number (not a fraction) that can be
positive, negative, or zero. In computer science, an integer is
a datum of integral data type, a data type that represents
some finite subset of the mathematical integers. Integral
data types may be of different sizes and may or may not be
allowed to contain negative values.
Iterations Iteration is the repetition of part of an algorithm until a
condition is met or for a specified number of times. This is
often called a 'loop'. Recursive functions repeatedly execute
themselves as part of their operation. Upon completing all
instructions and resetting to the first one iteration has been
completed.
, Libraries In computer science, a library is a collection of nonvolatile
resources that a program can use often to develop software.
Libraries are particularly useful for storing frequently used
routines because you do not need to explicitly link them to
every program that uses them. The linker automatically looks
in libraries for routines that it does not find elsewhere.
Resources which may be found in libraries include data,
documentation, message templates, pre-written code, classes,
or values.
A process that checks every element in the list sequentially
until the desired element is found or all elements have been
Linear/Sequential Search
searched. Can be used in any type of list. Has linear
performance.
Lossless Data With lossless compression, every single bit of data that was
Compression originally in the file remains after the file is uncompressed.
All of the information is completely restored. This is
generally the technique of choice for text or spreadsheet
files, where the loss of words or financial data could pose a
problem. PNG is an image format that provides lossless
compression.
Lossy Data Compression Lossy compression reduces a file by permanently eliminating
certain information, especially redundant information.
When the file is uncompressed, only a part of the original
information is still there (although the user may not notice
it). Lossy compression is generally used for video and sound,
where a certain amount of information loss will not be
detected by most users. JPEG provides lossy compression.
Metadata is data that describes other data. Metadata
summarizes basic information about data, which can make
Metadata finding and working with particular instances of data easier. It
provides information concerning an item's content such as
image resolution and size.
