Dictionary

!  - A logical operator that reverses the state of a boolean value

&&  - A logical operator that evaluates to true only if both sides are true

==  - An operator to compare two pieces of primitive data or two addresses

||  - A logical operator that evaluates to true if either side is true

abstract  - A class that is never meant to be instantiated except through a concrete subclass

accessor  - A method that returns the value of a private instance variable (aka getter)

add  - The method for putting a new item in a list

addresses  - The location in memory at which an object is stored

Aggregation  - Has - A Object relation

algorithm  - A step by step process for solving a problem

AND  - Only true if both inputs are true

arithmetic operators

+, -, *, /, %

array

A collection of pieces of data stored as indexed items under one name

ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException

An error that happens when you refer to an element number larger than your array

ArrayList

A template class for keeping track of collections of data with a changing size

assembler

The part of the IDE that turns your code into assembly code

assembly language

The instruction set used by the CPU (aka machine code)

assign

Set a variable to a value

attribute

A variable property of an object (aka field)

autoboxing

A feature of Java that converts primitive types to their class counterpart

base 2 logarithm

A mathematical operation that returns what power of 2 a number is

base case

A condition that triggers a recursive process to end

base class

A class that another class inherits from (aka superclass)

behavior

An ability of an object (aka method)

Binary Search

A search technique on ordered data that cuts the list in half on each check

bit

A binary digit

block

A piece of code that is separated from the code around it

body

The code inside of a method

boolean

A type of variable or operation that evaluates to true or false

braces

Symbols that define the start and end of a block of code

break

A statement to jump outside of a loop or conditional branch

bugs

Problems that prevent code from working properly

byte

Eight bits

bytecode

The Java code that is ready to be processed by an interpreter

capacity

The amount of space allocated for a List

case

Identifies a code choice of a switch statement

cast

Forcing an expression of one data type to fit into a variable with a different type

catch

A keyword used to collect and handle specific types of exceptions

change

Setting a part of the condition to a different value so the code doesn't loop infinitely

char

A data type for holding a single letter, digit or symbol

class

Code that defines the attributes and behaviors of an object

class definition

All of the method headers and instance variables that make up a class

class declaration

The header line of a class

class variable

A variable that is shared among all instances of a class (aka static field)

client

A class that uses another class

column

A vertical organization of items in a 2D array, the second set of brackets

comments

A written description of what code does for human readers

Comparable

An interface requiring compareTo that allows built-in sort and searches to be used on a class

comparator

A class implementing compare that creates a tool for sorting and searching

compare

A tool that is used to check the order between two objects passed as parameters

compareTo

A method that is used to check the order between an object and a single parameter

comparisons

When an expression or constant is checked for a relationship with another

compatible

Data types that contain similar enough values that they can be cast to each other

compiler

The part of an IDE used to change turn code into software

compound

A complex line of code with made of multiple expressions

compound assign

+=, -=, *=, /=, %=

concatenation

An operation that creates a new string out of other strings by sticking them together

concrete

A class that can be instantiated, a non abstract class

condition

A statement that can be evaluated to determine if a piece of code will be run

conditional

A statement that is dependent on an expression that evaluates to true or false

console application

A piece of software that runs without a GUI

conspicuous

Variable names that clearly describe the value they represent

constant

A variable that cannot change once its initial value is assigned

constructor

A piece of code that is run when an object is instantiated/created

contents

What is inside of a data set or element

convention

An agreed upon way of coding that is not required by the computer

convert

Changing values of one type into another

copy constructor

A special constructor that takes a parameter of the same type as the class being created

CPU

The "brain" of your computer.

data type

The kind of information that can be held in a variable

debugger

The part of an IDE that helps you find errors in your code

declaration

The line where a class, method or variable is first created

decrement

Decreasing a value by 1

default constructor

A constructor provided by the compiler when no constructor is coded

DeMorgan's Laws

Rules that describe how logical operations relate and transform into each other

derived class

A class that inherits from another class (aka subclass)

digital

Using whole numbers

direct manipulation interface

An interface that allows the user to interact with program constructs manually

do-while

A type of loop with the condition at the end that always executes at least once

document

To create help files and comments to make notes for future users and editors

dot notation

A way of referencing a method or variable that is part of a class

double

The most common data type for decimal numbers

editor

The part of an IDE used to type code

element

A individual item in an array or list

empty string

A string variable that has memory allocated but no text ("")

encapsulation

The practice of using setters and getters to control access to private variables

equals

A method that compares objects to see if they are the same

equation

A mathematical statement that two expressions have the same value

evaluate

Determine the current value of an expression

exception

An problem that occurs while a program is running that causes it to crash

exception handling

Code intended to catch runtime errors and handle them to prevent a crash

executable

A file ready to be run as a program by an operating system

expression

A piece of code that will be evaluated when it is run

extends

A keyword that is used to cause a class to inherit from another class

false

The opposite of true

field

A variable created and stored at the object level (aka instance variable)

final

A keyword used for creating a constant

finally

A keyword that attempts to run code after an exception has happened

flowchart

A graphic showing the paths that execution of a program may follow

for

A type of loop with the initialization, condtion and chage built into the header. A fixed number of times loop.

for-each loop

A special code block for traversing an array or list

formatting

Making numbers appear in as text in a particular way

gate

A component that does simple binary calculations

generic type

A superclass type shared by multiple subclass types

getter

A method that returns the value of a private instance variable (aka accessor)

GUI

The graphical user interface for interacting with a user

hardware

Physical component of a device

HAS-A

A relationship between classes where one class is used by another

hierarchy

A system for organizing in which each item is a superclass and/or subclass of another item

high level language

A language like Java that is converted to machine code before it is executated

IDE

An integrated development environment that contains the tools you need to write a program

if-else

The keywords used for conditional branching

immutable

A value that cannot be changed once created

implementation

The final code used to solve a programming problem

implements

A keyword that indicates a class will perform the job of an interface

implicit

Something that is assumed to be the case if not stated otherwise

import

A keyword that allows you to use code from another package in your code

increment

To increase a value by a set amount

indentation

Shifting code to the right to indicated that it is inside a block

index

The number that represents each letter or element in a String, array or a List

IndexOutOfBoundsException

An error that happens when code accesses an element in an array that doesn't exist

infinite loop

A piece of code that repeats itself forever

information hiding

The practice of making instance variables private to protect the internals operations of the code

inheritance

When a subclass gets code and variables originally created in the parent class

initialize

Allocate the memory for an array and set up beginning values

Insertion Sort

A sort with O(n^2) speed that finds the correct position of each element swapping as needed

instance

An object based on a class that exists when a program is running

instance variable

A variable stored at the class level (aka field)

instantiate

Creating and setting up and actual instance of a class to link to its variable, uses "new" keyword

int

The most common data type for non decimal numbers

integer division

The answer for why 7/2 is 3 and not 3.5

interface

A programming construct that provides headers of required methods, but no code or variables

interpret

Preparing a Java application to be run for a specific operating system

invoke

A word meaning to call a method and run its code

IS-A

A subclass/superclass relationship between classes

iteration

One of many times executing the same piece of code

iterative statements

Sections of code that repeat in a predictable order

JavaDoc

A tool that creates documentation for code using comments with special syntax and keywords

JDK

The Java Development Kit needed for writing Java code

key

A piece of data in an object used to sort on

length

The number of items in an array

length() method

Used to find the number of characters in a string

literal strings

Text that is written in code between quotation marks

local variable

A variable created inside a method or other block of code

logic error

A coding mistake that causes code to act differently than planned

logical operators

Operators that combine or compare boolean expressions (eg. &&, ||, !)

loop invariant

A relationship between variables that is checked to determine whether to loop again

loops

Any piece of code that repeats when it reaches the end

machine code

A CPU specific binary language (aka assembly code)

Mergesort

A sort with O(n log n) speed that breaks the data set in half calling itself recursively

method

Code that defines an ability or behavior of an object

minimized

Code that takes the least space possible

modifier

A method used to change the value of a private variable (aka setter, mutator)

modulus

%, An operator for finding the remainder from integer division

motherboard

Computer component all other parts connect to

mutator

A method used to change the value of a private variable (aka setter, modifer)

nested

Code that is inside another block of code

nested loop

A piece of repeating code inside another piece of repeating code

new operator

A keyword used when calling the constructor for an object being instantiated

newline

A character that tells the console to move the cursor to the next line

no-args constructor

An empy constructor, one that takes no parameters

NOT

Reverses value of the input

null

A keyword meaning "has no value"

O notation

A way of showing the relative theoretical speed of a search or sort algorithm

object

An instance of a class that exists when a program is running

object model

A planning tool used to design a class before coding it

object oriented programming

A programming philosophy in which code is written to represent real world things or ideas

OR

True if any input is true

order of operators

The rules that determine how the computer chooses which operations are evaluated first

overloaded

When a method is written in different ways with two or more possible parameter sets

package

A collection of java classes

parameter

A variable whose value or reference is passed into a method

parse

Move through a string one letter or word at a time

partitioning

The process of breaking a set into two or more pieces

pass by reference

When a parameter is sent as a memory location

pass by value

When a parameter is sent as data

pattern recognition

The ability to recognize a form of organization in a data set

peripheral

Computer part not inside the chassis

pivot

A value in a set used to split the set into two parts on which the data will be sorted

polymorphism

The concept that a single named behavior can be performed differently by various subclasses

primitive type

One of the built-in non-object data types that is stored by value

printf

A special method for Strings that includes formatting characters in the string literal

private

A keyword that makes a variable or method accessible from only inside the class

procedural language

A language where programs are expected to operate in a predictable order

pseudocode

A way of designing a program using written descriptions of what the code will be

public

A keyword that makes a variable or method accessible from outside the class

Quicksort

A sort with O(n log n) speed that splits the data using a randomly chosen pivot

RAM

Computer component that stores currently in-use data

readability

A measure of how easily something is understood by others

recursive

A piece of code that uses itself to solve the problem

redundancy

Allows a something to be understood even if some of it is missing or wrong

reference

An address that holds the memory location of the variable's data

regular expression

A predefined set of codes for limiting parse and search type String operations

relational operators

Operators that compare two expressions (eg. <>, !=, ==)

remove

A method for taking an item out of a list and filling any gap

reserved word

Special words used by the Java language that cannot be used for naming

return

A statement that causes a method to end and may send back a value to the calling code

return type

The kind of data that will be sent back by a method

row

A horizontal section of a 2D array, the first set of square brackets

scope

The part of code in which a variable exists or is accessible

search

Finding a particular item in a list, array or other collection

Selection Sort

A sort with O(n^2) speed that checks each element against every other element

Sequential Search

A search that checks each element from beginning to end

set

A method for changing the value of an item in a list

setter

A method that is used to change the value of a private variable (aka modifier)

short-circuit evaluation

A chain of relational or conditional expressions that stops evaluating as soon as the result is known

signature

The header line of a method that defines its return type, name and parameter list

size

The number of items in an ArrayList

software engineering

Planning, designing, building and testing computer programs

sorting

Putting a collection of data in order

source code

The original code created by the programmer

square brackets

Used to create arrays and refer to a specific element

stack

The part of the computer that keeps track currently running layers of code

statement

A complete and syntactically correct line of code

static field

A variable that is shared among all instances of a class (aka class variable)

static method

A method that uses no (non-static) instance variables and can be called without an instance of the class

String

A built-in class for holding words, sentences, parahraphes, etc.

style

The conventions agreed upon by programmers for how to write code to be understood by others

subclass

A class that inherits from another class

subinterface

An interface that inherits from another interface

subscript

A way of writing an index to an array in pseudocode

substring

A part of a text value

super

A keyword that is used to access methods and fields from a base class

superclass

A class that another class inherits from (aka base class)

superinterface

An interface that another interface inherits from

switch

A keyword that chooses what code to run based on a single value

symbolic

A name that represents another value

syntax

The rules for how code must be entered to compile and work

syntax error

A coding mistake that prevents code from compiling

testing

Checking the condition on a piece of code

this

A keyword that refers to the current instance of the class

transistor

A tiny on-off switch

transmission

Moving something from one place to another

traversal

The process of interacting with each element in an array or list in order

true

The opposite of false

try

A keyword that begins a block code that could cause an exception

Two-Dimensional Array

An array of arrays

uninitialized string

A string variable that is named but has nowhere to store its data

value

Data represented by a variable or expression

variable

A named value in a program that can contain a specific type of data

visual prototyping and design tools

Tools that allow an engineer to plan their software through drawings and flow models

while

A type of loop that runs as long as its condition is true

whitespace

Any space, tab or new line charcter in the code

wrapper class

A class designed to add behaviors to a primitive type

XOR

True if and only if one input is true