AP Computer Science Principles
Vocabulary Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
Algorithm - Correct answer-At its core, an algorithm is really just a generalized,
conceptual solution to a problem that can later be implemented in some real-world
form like a computer program.
Application Program Interface - Correct answer-Application program interface
(API) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for constructing software
applications. An API specifies how software components should interact. In
addition, APIs are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI)
components.
Binary - Correct answer-A numeric system of base 2 that only uses combinations
of the digits zero and one; this is used in one of the lowest levels of abstraction.
Computers operate in binary, as they store data and perform calculations using only
zeros and ones. While a single binary digit can be used to represent True (1) or
False (0) in boolean logic, multiple binary digits can be used in conjunction to
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,store large numbers and perform complex functions. Computers translate between
binary and what you actually work with such as numbers and text.
Binary Search - Correct answer-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-and-conquer
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* - Correct answer-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
two-element set (usually {0,1})
Central Processing Unit - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-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
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,Cryptography - Correct answer-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.
Floating Point Numbers - Correct answer-As the name implies, floating point
numbers are numbers that contain floating decimal points. 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 - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-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.
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, Iterations - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-In computer science, a library is a collection of non-
volatile 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.
Linear/Sequential Search - Correct answer-A process that checks every element in
the list sequentially until the desired element is found or all elements have been
searched. Can be used in any type of list. Has linear performance.
Lossless Data Compression - Correct answer-With lossless compression, every
single bit of data that was 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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Vocabulary Exam 2026 Questions and
Answers
Algorithm - Correct answer-At its core, an algorithm is really just a generalized,
conceptual solution to a problem that can later be implemented in some real-world
form like a computer program.
Application Program Interface - Correct answer-Application program interface
(API) is a set of routines, protocols, and tools for constructing software
applications. An API specifies how software components should interact. In
addition, APIs are used when programming graphical user interface (GUI)
components.
Binary - Correct answer-A numeric system of base 2 that only uses combinations
of the digits zero and one; this is used in one of the lowest levels of abstraction.
Computers operate in binary, as they store data and perform calculations using only
zeros and ones. While a single binary digit can be used to represent True (1) or
False (0) in boolean logic, multiple binary digits can be used in conjunction to
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,store large numbers and perform complex functions. Computers translate between
binary and what you actually work with such as numbers and text.
Binary Search - Correct answer-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-and-conquer
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* - Correct answer-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
two-element set (usually {0,1})
Central Processing Unit - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,Cryptography - Correct answer-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.
Floating Point Numbers - Correct answer-As the name implies, floating point
numbers are numbers that contain floating decimal points. 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 - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-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.
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, Iterations - Correct answer-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 - Correct answer-In computer science, a library is a collection of non-
volatile 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.
Linear/Sequential Search - Correct answer-A process that checks every element in
the list sequentially until the desired element is found or all elements have been
searched. Can be used in any type of list. Has linear performance.
Lossless Data Compression - Correct answer-With lossless compression, every
single bit of data that was 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
©COPYRIGHT 2025, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
