Programmer's Glossary

Source Code   plain text written by a programmer in a programming language which can be translated into machine language somehow.

Program   list of instructions in machine language

Compiler   a piece of software that reads source code and outputs (executable binaries) programs

Interpreter   a program that creates machine instructions on-the-fly while reading source code.
  For instance your web browser is an interpreter for HTML CSS and Javascript source code.

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)   A program with several types of tools for writing code. Common tools include:
  - code editor w/ syntax highlighting
  - file management for project source code and resource files
  - compile and build tools
  - debugging and run configuration tools

Syntax   structural rules of a programming language (e.g. 'punctuation')

Function   An executable subroutine that can (optionally) take in input data and (optionally) return output data

Method   Function that exists as part of a class. All funcitons are methods in Java.

Declaration   Defines a new function and must include the return data type and the names & data types of all parameters (if any parameters are used).

Parameter   Local variables that store the inputs to a function. These are defined in the declaration

Argument   Values given to parameters during a function call. These values last for only one run of the function.

Call   The action of executing an already defined function. You must supply arguments for all parameters, and they must match the parameter data types.

Return   The function output or whatever data results from the function call. The return data must match the data type of the function declaration.

Encapsulation   The grouping of data references (variables) and relevant sub-routines (functions / methods).

Class   An encapsulation containing variables and methods which defines a name-space. All classes may be used as a custom data type. Class names should be CaptialCamelCase.

Member   A class sub-component such as a variable or function. Member variables are called Fields, member functions are called methods. All members should be named in lowerCamelCase. Members are accessed with the '.' operator (member operator)

Object   A variable with data type given by a class. An object is an Instance of a class. Creating an object is called instantiation. Objects are referenced by pointer.

Constructor   A method used to initialize an object. Constructors have the same name as the Class and are called with key word 'new'. The constructor allocates memory and assigns a pointer.

Instance   (adjective) A member belonging to an object - e.g. instance variable or instance method. Every object has its own independent set of instance variables.

Static (adjective)   Members belonging to the class itself, but not unique for any instance. Non-static variables are instance variables. Non-static methods are instance methods.

Base Class   A class which is extended to define a Derived Class

Derived Class   A class which is based upon a Base Class for its definition Has all members of Base class including instance variables, instance methods and static methods Inherited methods can be Overridden by re-declaring them. The base-class method can be accessed with super.methodName()

Abstract Class   contains one or more abstract methods. Cannot be instantiated directly.

Abstract Method   method which mush be overriden by a derived class. It is called Implementing to Override an abstract method.