Programming Glossary

A

Argument: An actual value (variable constant, or declared constant) of a specified data type provided when a subprogram is called (into action); an argument list is an ordered set of such value.
Assignment Operator (:=): An operator that tells the computer to put into the storage location named on the left the value which appears on the right.

Comma (,): Symbol used to spate items in a list, good programming technique requires a blank space after each comma.
Comment: Text written for the benefit of programmers; this text is never seen by the users of the programs. A comment is preceded by a %.
Comment sign (%): The percentage sign (%) indicates the start of a comment. The computer will always ignore everything which appears after the percentage sign. Comments are written for the benefit of the programmer. They are never seen by the user of the program.
Constant: A value which never changes.

Declared Constant: A special kind of variable whose value cannot be changed once initialized.
Dot-Dot: Option of the put keyword; instructs the computer not to move to the beginning of the next line.

Output Field: The horizontal space taken by data put out by the computer if no field width is specified, the computer provides an output field identical to the length of the data; string data are left-justified and numeric data is right-justified within and output field.
Output Field Width: For character strings and integers a single value is the specified for the field, for reals, two values can be specified the overall field width to be displayed within that overall width; 0 is a special value which specifies a field width exactly equal to the actual width of the data (the default width).

Parameter: A variable of a special data type required for the correct execution of a subprogram; a parameter list specifies the order and data types of the value which must me provided when a subprogram is called (into action).
Procedure: A subprogram which performs a defined task (see function).
Put: Keyword short of �output?that instructs the computer to output objects to the run window, once the object are output the curser moves to the beginning of the next line.

Sequence: Unless a program specifies otherwise, the computer will execute each instruction of a program in sequence, from top to bottom. This type of program control is called sequence, and all programs have at least one section of code which executes in sequence.
Skip: Keyword used for object of put; instructs the computer to move the surer to the beginning of the next line.
Subprogram: A named program fragment (see procedure, function).

Variable: Variables are named locations in memory for the storage of data of a specified type. The command "var" instructs the computer to reserve space, in RAM, for data of the type specified. The space has the name specified.

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Background seen on this section of the website comes from Free Wallpapers. Taken: 2010-10-01