1 | Page
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES
VOCABULARY 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 store large numbers and
perform complex functions. Computers translate between
binary and what you actually work with such as numbers and
text.
,2 | Page
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
,3 | Page
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.
, 4 | Page
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
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES
VOCABULARY 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 store large numbers and
perform complex functions. Computers translate between
binary and what you actually work with such as numbers and
text.
,2 | Page
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
,3 | Page
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.
, 4 | Page
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
