Computer Science Fundamentals: Key Concepts and Definitions, Exams of Nursing

A comprehensive overview of fundamental concepts in computer science. It includes definitions of key terms related to data representation, data compression, programming constructs, data structures, and more. It serves as a valuable resource for students and professionals seeking to understand the basic building blocks of computer science, offering clear and concise explanations of essential terminology. Topics such as analog and digital data, binary systems, boolean expressions, data types, control structures, and various data compression techniques. It also delves into data structures like linked lists, queues, and stacks, as well as programming concepts such as parameters, subprograms, and asynchronous operations. This resource is designed to enhance understanding and retention of core computer science principles.

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2025/2026

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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER
SCIENCE - D684 CORRECT
analog data - ANSWERdata represented in a continuous and variable form
American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) - ANSWERa standard
encoding system for text characters that uses numeric values to represent letters,
numbers, and symbols
binary - ANSWERa numerical system that uses only two digits, zero and one, to
represent data in computing
Boolean expression - ANSWERa logical statement that can only be true or false and
uses operators like AND, OR, and NOT
character - ANSWERa single letter, digit, or symbol used in writing text
character set - ANSWERa collection of characters that a computer can recognize and
process, like ASCII or Unicode compression ratio: the ratio of the original data size to
the compressed data size, indicating how much the data has been reduced
control structure - ANSWERconstructs in programming that control the flow of
execution, such as loops and conditional statements
data - ANSWERraw facts and figures that can be processed to produce meaningful
information
data compression - ANSWERthe process of reducing the size of data to save space or
transmission time
data types - ANSWERcategories of data that define what kind of value can be stored,
like integers, floats, and strings, and how it can be used
declaration - ANSWERa statement in programming that specifies the name and type of
a variable or function without assigning a value
digital data - ANSWERdata represented using discrete binary values (zeroes and ones)
floating point - ANSWERa way to represent real numbers that can have fractional parts
using a format that includes a base and an exponent
Huffman encoding - ANSWERa compression technique that uses variable-length codes
for data representation based on frequency of occurrence
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INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER

SCIENCE - D684 CORRECT

analog data - ANSWERdata represented in a continuous and variable form American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) - ANSWERa standard encoding system for text characters that uses numeric values to represent letters, numbers, and symbols binary - ANSWERa numerical system that uses only two digits, zero and one, to represent data in computing Boolean expression - ANSWERa logical statement that can only be true or false and uses operators like AND, OR, and NOT character - ANSWERa single letter, digit, or symbol used in writing text character set - ANSWERa collection of characters that a computer can recognize and process, like ASCII or Unicode compression ratio: the ratio of the original data size to the compressed data size, indicating how much the data has been reduced control structure - ANSWERconstructs in programming that control the flow of execution, such as loops and conditional statements data - ANSWERraw facts and figures that can be processed to produce meaningful information data compression - ANSWERthe process of reducing the size of data to save space or transmission time data types - ANSWERcategories of data that define what kind of value can be stored, like integers, floats, and strings, and how it can be used declaration - ANSWERa statement in programming that specifies the name and type of a variable or function without assigning a value digital data - ANSWERdata represented using discrete binary values (zeroes and ones) floating point - ANSWERa way to represent real numbers that can have fractional parts using a format that includes a base and an exponent Huffman encoding - ANSWERa compression technique that uses variable-length codes for data representation based on frequency of occurrence

information - ANSWERdata that have been processed or organized in a meaningful way to be useful integer - ANSWERa whole number keyword encoding - ANSWERa method of data compression that replaces frequently occurring patterns with shorter codes lossless - ANSWERa type of data compression where no information is lost and the original data can be perfectly reconstructed lossy - ANSWERa type of data compression that reduces file size by permanently eliminating some information, which may affect quality numeric - ANSWERany value that is a number overflow - ANSWERa condition in which a calculation exceeds the maximum value that can be represented within a given number of bits pulse-code modulation (PCM) - ANSWERa method used to digitally represent analog signals radix point - ANSWERthe decimal point in a number system that indicates the separation between integer and fractional parts real - ANSWERa data type representing numbers that can have fractional parts, often called floating-point numbers reclocking - ANSWERthe process of refreshing the timing signals in digital data to ensure accuracy and synchronization run-length encoding - ANSWERa simple compression technique that replaces sequences of repeated characters with a single character and a count scientific notation - ANSWERa method of representing very large or very small numbers by using powers of 10 signed-magnitude representation - ANSWERa way of encoding positive and negative numbers where one bit represents the sign and the remaining bits represent the magnitude string - ANSWERa sequence of characters treated as a single data element and used for text manipulation

variable - ANSWERa named storage location in memory that can hold different values throughout a program abstract step - ANSWERa high-level action in an algorithm that describes what needs to be done without detailing how to do it branch - ANSWERa point in an algorithm where a decision is made, leading to different actions based on conditions (e.g., if-then statements) infinite loop - ANSWERa loop that never ends because the termination condition is never met or is incorrectly written input - ANSWERdata that are provided to a program for processing loop control variable - ANSWERa variable that determines whether the loop will continue running or stop, often incremented or modified within the loop nested structure - ANSWERa programming construct where one control structure (like a loop or a conditional statement) is placed inside another output - ANSWERdata that are produced by a program and presented to the user or another system pretest loop - ANSWERa loop that evaluates its condition before executing the body of the loop, such as a while loop pseudocode - ANSWERA simplified, human-readable version of a program's code that outlines the logic without strict syntax rules repetition (iteration) - ANSWERthe act of executing a set of instructions multiple times, typically using loops selection - ANSWERa control structure that allows a program to choose between different actions based on conditions (similar to a branch) left-to-right associativity - ANSWERthe rule that operators with the same precedence are evaluated from left to right in an expression magic number - ANSWERa hard-coded number in a program that lacks context or explanation, making the code harder to understand and maintain named constant - ANSWERa variable with a value that is set once and cannot be changed; it is used to give meaningful names to fixed values

overhead - ANSWERthe extra processing time, memory, or other resources required by a computer program beyond the actual task it is performing rules of precedence (order of operations) - ANSWERthe rules that define the sequence in which different operations (like addition and multiplication) are performed in an expression to ensure consistent results abstract data type - ANSWERa blueprint for organizing and working with data that defines what operations can be performed on the data without specifying how they are implemented composite variable - ANSWERa variable that can hold multiple pieces of data, often grouped together under a single name container - ANSWERa data structure that holds a collection of elements, providing methods to add, remove, and access items within it data structure - ANSWERa way of organizing and storing data in a computer's memory designed to facilitate the efficient retrieval, insertion, and deletion of data linked list - ANSWERa sequence of elements where each element points to the next one, forming a chain linked structure - ANSWERany structure composed of elements connected by links or pointers, enabling dynamic relationships among data elements list - ANSWERa collection of items arranged in a linear sequence, allowing for easy access to and the insertion and deletion of elements queue - ANSWERa data structure that follows a first-in, first-out (FIFO) order where elements are added to the back and removed from the front stack - ANSWERa data structure that follows a last-in, first-out (LIFO) order where elements are added and removed from the same end, known as the top argument - ANSWERthe actual value or data you pass to a function or subprogram when you call it parameter - ANSWERa variable in a function or subprogram definition that acts as a placeholder for the value (argument) you pass when you call the function parameter list - ANSWERa set of parameters defined in a function or subprogram specifying the number and types of inputs the function can accept

paradigm - ANSWERa style or approach to programming—such as object-oriented, procedural, or functional programming—that dictates how code is structured and organized polymorphism - ANSWERa concept that allows objects of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass algorithm - ANSWERa step-by-step procedure or set of rules designed to solve a specific problem or perform a particular task analysis - ANSWERexamining and understanding the problem thoroughly to identify its requirements, constraints, and objectives design - ANSWERplanning and creating a solution to the problem based on the analysis; often involves the creation of algorithms and data structures implementation - ANSWERwriting code or programming to execute the designed solution using a specific programming language or tool maintenance - ANSWERthe ongoing process of keeping a system, machine, or software in good working condition testing - ANSWERevaluating the solution by running the program with different inputs to ensure it produces the expected outputs and behaves correctly end user - ANSWERthe person who ultimately uses a software application or system debugging - ANSWERthe process of identifying and fixing errors or "bugs" in the code that cause unexpected behavior or incorrect results documentation - ANSWERall the paperwork needed to produce a program high-level programming language - ANSWERa type of programming language designed to be easy for humans to read and write low-level programming language - ANSWERa type of programming language closer to the machine's native language software development lifecycle - ANSWERa systematic process consisting of several phases that are followed to produce high-quality software Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) - ANSWERan international organization dedicated to advancing computing as a science and profession assignment statement - ANSWERa line of code that assigns a value to a variable, like x = 5

binary operator - ANSWERan operator that takes two operands, such as +, -, *, and / camel casing - ANSWERa naming convention where the first letter is lowercase and each subsequent word starts with an uppercase letter, like myVariableName garbage - ANSWERunused or leftover data in memory that the program no longer needs or references Hungarian notation - ANSWERa naming convention where the name of a variable starts with a prefix indicating its type, like strName for a string variable identifier - ANSWERa name given to a variable, function, or other item in code to identify it initializing a variable - ANSWERassigning an initial value to a variable when it is declared, like int x = 10 kebob case - ANSWERa naming convention where words are all lowercase and separated by hyphens, like my-variable-name keyword (reserved word) - ANSWERa reserved word in a programming language that has a specific meaning and cannot be used as an identifier, like if, while, and class lvalue - ANSWERan expression that refers to a memory location, which can appear on the left side of an assignment, like x in x = 5 code of ethics - ANSWERprofessional code of conduct and ethical guidelines established by organizations and industry associations to govern the behavior of computer scientists and technology professionals Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - ANSWERan international organization focused on fostering innovation and excellence in electrical, electronics, and computing engineering privacy - ANSWERrespecting and protecting individuals' privacy and confidentiality in the collection, storage, and use of personal data professionalism - ANSWERdemonstrating competence, responsibility, and accountability in all professional activities and interactions public interest - ANSWERprioritizing the well-being and safety of the public in the design, development, and deployment of computing technology and systems

concrete step - ANSWERa detailed action in an algorithm that specifies exactly how to perform a task count-controlled loop - ANSWERa loop that repeats a specific number of times; controlled by a counter variable (e.g., "for" loop) desk checking - ANSWERa manual method of reviewing the logic of a program or algorithm using a pencil and paper instead of a computer event-controlled loop - ANSWERa loop that continues to execute until a specific condition or event occurs, such as user input or a sensor reading heterogeneous - ANSWERa term describing a collection of items that are of different types homogenous - ANSWERa term describing a collection of items that are all of the same type index - ANSWERa numerical representation of an element's position within an array or list insertion sort - ANSWERa sorting algorithm that builds the final sorted array one item at a time by inserting each new item into its correct position processing - ANSWERthe act of performing operations on data according to a set of instructions to achieve a desired result record - ANSWERa composite variable that can store multiple fields of different data types, usually related to a single entity searching - ANSWERthe process of finding a specific item or value within a collection of data selection sort - ANSWERa simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly finds the minimum element from the unsorted part of a list and moves it to the beginning sequential search (linear search) - ANSWERa search algorithm that checks each element in a list one by one until the desired element is found or the list ends sorting - ANSWERthe process of arranging data in a particular order, such as ascending or descending flowchart - ANSWERa visual diagram that represents the steps in a process or algorithm using symbols and arrows to show the flow of control

flowline - ANSWERan arrow in a flowchart that connects symbols and indicates the direction of the process flow input symbol - ANSWERa symbol in a flowchart, typically represented as a parallelogram, that indicates where data are received by the process of receiving data from an external source, such as user input or data entry input/output symbol (I/O symbol) - ANSWERa symbol in a flowchart that represents an operation involving input or output, such as reading data from a user or displaying results output symbol - ANSWERa symbol in a flowchart that indicates the output of data from a process processing symbol - ANSWERa rectangle in a flowchart that represents a step where data is processed or an action is performed terminal symbol - ANSWERan oval or rounded rectangle in a flowchart that indicates the start or end of a process explicit conversion - ANSWERa type of conversion where the programmer manually changes a data type to another, often using a specific function or syntax floating-point number - ANSWERa number that can have a fractional part represented with decimal points integer division - ANSWERa division operation where the result is the whole number part of the quotient, discarding any remainder implicit conversion - ANSWERa type of conversion where the programming language automatically changes one data type to another without the programmer's intervention type conversion (type casting) - ANSWERthe process of changing a value from one data type to another, which can be done explicitly by the programmer or implicitly by the programming language end-structure statement - ANSWERa statement that marks the end of a block of code, such as the end of a loop or an if statement dual-alternative if - ANSWERan if statement that provides two paths: one for when the condition is true and another for when it is false (also known as if-else) loop structure - ANSWERa way to repeat a block of code multiple times based on a condition, such as for loops or while loops

partition memory management - ANSWERa method of dividing memory into segments or partitions, each of which can hold a different process physical address - ANSWERthe actual location in computer memory hardware where data is stored preemptive scheduling - ANSWERa CPU scheduling method where a running process can be interrupted and replaced by another process before it finishes process - ANSWERan instance of a running program, including its current state and memory information process control block (PCB) - ANSWERa data structure the operating system uses to store all information about a process process management - ANSWERmanaging the operating system's execution of processes, including their creation, scheduling, and termination process states - ANSWERthe various stages a process goes through during its lifecycle, such as new, ready, running, waiting, and terminated real-time system - ANSWERa computing system that processes data and responds to inputs in a specific, often very short, time frame response time - ANSWERthe time taken from the submission of a request to the start of the system's response round-robin - ANSWERa CPU scheduling algorithm where each process is assigned a fixed time slice in a rotating order shortest job next (SJN) - ANSWERa CPU scheduling algorithm that selects the process with the shortest expected execution time next single contiguous memory management - ANSWERa memory management method where all processes are loaded into a single contiguous block of memory system software - ANSWERsoftware designed to provide a platform for other software, including operating systems and utility programs thrashing - ANSWERa condition where excessive paging operations, occur leading to reduced system performance time slice - ANSWERa fixed amount of CPU time allocated to each process in a round- robin scheduling algorithm

timesharing - ANSWERa method where multiple users can access a computer system concurrently by sharing time slices of the CPU turnaround time - ANSWERthe total time taken from the submission of a process to its completion virtual machine - ANSWERsoftware emulation of a physical computer, providing the same functionality as a physical machine virtual memory - ANSWERa memory management technique that creates an illusion of a large contiguous memory space by using disk storage to extend physical memory absolute path - ANSWERthe complete and specific location of a file or directory in a file system, starting from the root directory binary file - ANSWERa file that contains data in a format that is not human readable; typically used to store executable programs or complex data structures direct file access - ANSWERthe ability to retrieve or manipulate data from a file directly without sequentially accessing preceding data directory - ANSWERa container used to organize files into a hierarchical structure on a computer system directory tree - ANSWERa graphical representation or hierarchical structure of directories and subdirectories in a file system disk scheduling - ANSWERthe method an operating system uses to efficiently schedule access to disk resources, aiming to reduce seek time and optimize performance file - ANSWERa named collection of data stored on a computer system, which can be text, an image, an executable, or any other type of information file extension - ANSWERa suffix attached to the end of a filename indicating the format or type of the file file system - ANSWERthe method and data structure an operating system uses to organize and store files on storage devices such as hard drives file type - ANSWERthe classification or category of a file based on its content and format that determines how it can be used or opened path - ANSWERa string of characters that specifies the location of a file or directory in a file system

input unit - ANSWERdevices and components used to input data into a computer system, such as keyboards and mice instruction register - ANSWERa register in the CPU that holds the current instruction being executed motherboard - ANSWERthe main circuit board of a computer, housing the CPU, memory, and other essential components output unit - ANSWERdevices and components used to output data from a computer system, such as monitors and printers pipelining - ANSWERa CPU performance enhancement technique where multiple instruction phases are overlapped to improve processing speed program counter - ANSWERa register in the CPU that holds the address of the next instruction to be executed register - ANSWERa small, fast storage location within the CPU used to hold temporary data and instructions sector - ANSWERthe smallest unit of data storage on a disk, typically part of a track track - ANSWERa circular path on the surface of a disk where data is magnetically recorded and read transfer rate - ANSWERthe speed at which data can be transmitted from one device to another, usually measured in bits per second address binding - ANSWERthe process of mapping a program's symbolic addresses to physical addresses in memory application software - ANSWERprograms designed to help users perform specific tasks, such as word processing, web browsing, or gaming batch processing - ANSWERa method of executing a series of jobs on a computer without manual intervention where tasks are processed in batches base register - ANSWERa register in the CPU that holds the starting address of the current memory segment; used in address translation bounds register - ANSWERa register that holds the ending address of a memory segment, ensuring that memory accesses stay within the allocated range context switch - ANSWERthe process of storing and restoring the state of a CPU so multiple processes can share a single CPU

CPU scheduling - ANSWERthe method by which an operating system decides which processes should be executed by the CPU and in what order demand paging - ANSWERa memory management scheme where pages of data are brought into memory only when they are needed rather than in advance dumb terminal - ANSWERa simple display and input device with no processing power relying on a central computer for computing tasks dynamic partition technique - ANSWERa memory management method where memory is divided into variable-sized partitions based on the needs of processes first-come, first-served (FCFS) - ANSWERa CPU scheduling algorithm that processes requests in the order they arrive without priority fixed partition technique - ANSWERa memory management method where memory is divided into fixed-sized partitions, each holding one process frame - ANSWERa fixed-size block of physical memory used in paging systems to hold pages of virtual memory logical address - ANSWERan address generated by the CPU during a program's execution that is then translated to a physical address memory management - ANSWERthe process of controlling and coordinating computer memory, including the allocation and deallocation of memory spaces multiprogramming - ANSWERa method where multiple programs are loaded into memory and executed by the CPU concurrently to maximize resource use access control policy - ANSWERrules that determine who can access specific resources or data in a system and which actions they can perform bandwidth - ANSWERthe maximum amount of data that can be transmitted over a network connection in a given amount of time, usually measured in bits per second (bps) Bluetooth - ANSWERa wireless technology that allows devices to communicate over short distances, typically used for connecting peripherals like headphones and keyboards broadband - ANSWERa high-speed internet connection that is always on and faster than traditional dial-up access, such as DSL, cable, and fiber-optic

hostname - ANSWERa unique name assigned to a device on a network and used to identify it ICANN - ANSWERan organization that manages the assignment of domain names and IP addresses on the internet internet backbone - ANSWERthe main infrastructure of the internet, consisting of high- speed data transmission lines and major networks internet protocol (IP) - ANSWERa set of rules governing the format of data sent over the internet or other networks internet service provider (ISP) - ANSWERa company that provides individuals and organizations access to the internet interoperability - ANSWERthe ability of different systems, devices, or software to work together and exchange information seamlessly IP address - ANSWERa unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a network, enabling it to communicate with other devices latency - ANSWERthe delay before data begins to transfer after an instruction for its transfer is given, often measured in milliseconds local-area network (LAN) - ANSWERa network that connects computers and devices within a limited area, such as a home, school, or office building metropolitan-area network (MAN) - ANSWERa network that spans a larger geographic area than a LAN, typically a city or a large campus MIME type - ANSWERa standard that indicates the nature and format of a file, used to identify the type of content being sent over the internet network neutrality - ANSWERthe principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally by ISPs, without discrimination or charging differently based on user, content, or application node (host) - ANSWERany device, such as a computer or printer, connected to a network that can send, receive, or manage data Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model - ANSWERa conceptual framework that standardizes the functions of a telecommunication or computing system into seven abstraction layers to facilitate interoperability

open system - ANSWERa system that uses open standards and protocols, allowing it to interact with other systems and be modified or extended by third parties packet - ANSWERa small unit of data transmitted over a network, containing both the data being sent and control information for routing packet switching - ANSWERa method of data transmission where data is broken into packets and sent over various routes to its destination, where it is reassembled phone modem - ANSWERa device that converts digital data from a computer into analog signals for transmission over telephone lines, and vice versa ping - ANSWERa network utility that tests the reachability of a host on a network and measures the time it takes for a message to travel to the host and back port - ANSWERa virtual point where network connections start and end, used to identify specific processes or services on a device proprietary system - ANSWERa system that is privately owned and controlled, often requiring specific software or hardware to operate protocol - ANSWERa set of rules that define how data is formatted, transmitted, and received over a network protocol stack - ANSWERa set of network protocol layers that work together to handle data communication, often referred to as a protocol suite P2P model - ANSWERa network model where each device can act as both a client and a server, sharing resources directly with other devices without a central server repeater - ANSWERa device that receives a signal and retransmits it at a higher power level to extend the range of the network ring topology - ANSWERa network configuration where each device is connected to two other devices, forming a circular data path router - ANSWERa device that directs data between different networks, ensuring data packets reach their correct destinations star topology - ANSWERa network configuration where all devices are connected to a central hub or switch, facilitating communication TCP/IP - ANSWERa set of protocols that governs how data is transmitted over the internet, ensuring reliable communication