Computer Science Principles 2025
LATEST UPDATE
User Interface
The inputs and outputs that allow a user to interact with a piece of software, can
include a variety of forms, such as buttons, menus, images, text, and graphics
Input
Data that are sent to a computer for processing by a program. Can come in a variety of
forms, such as tactile interaction, audio, visuals, or text
Output
Any data that are sent from a program to a device. Can come in a variety of forms, such as
tactile interaction, audio, visuals, or text
Sequential Programming
Program statements run in order, from top to bottom
Event-driven Programming
Some program statements run when triggered by an event, like a mouse click or a key
press
Program Statement
A command or instruction. Sometimes also referred to as a code statement
Program
A collection of program statements. Programs run (or "execute") one command at a
time
Documentation
A written description of how a command or piece of code works or was developed
Computing Device
A machine that can run a program, including computers, tablets, servers, routers, and
smart sensors
Computing System
A group of computing devices and programs working together for a common purpose
Computing Network
A group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data.
Path
Series of connections between computing devices on a network starting with a sender
and ending with a receiver
Bandwidth
The maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, usually
measured in bits per second.
Protocol
An agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of some system
IP Address (Internet Protocol Address)
The unique number assigned to each device on the Internet.
Internet Protocol (IP)
A protocol for sending data across the internet that assigns unique numbers (IP
Addresses) to each connected device
Router
A type of computer that forwards data across a network
Redundancy
, The inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work even if
individual components fail, for example by having more than one path between any two
connected devices in a network.
Fault tolerant
Can continue to function even in the event of individual component failures. This is
important because elements of complex systems like a computer network fail at unexpected
times, often in groups.
Data Stream
Information passed through the internet in packets.
Packet A chunk of data sent over a network. Larger messages are divided into packets that
may arrive at the destination in order, out of order, or not at all.
Packet Metadata
Data added to packets to help route them through the network and reassemble the
original message.
(TCP) Transmission Control Protocol
A protocol for sending packets that does error-checking to ensure all packets are
received and properly ordered
(UDP) User Datagram Protocol
A protocol for sending packets quickly with minimal error-checking and no resending
of dropped packets
Scalability
The capacity for the system to change in size and scale to meet new demands
World Wide Web
A system of linked pages, programs, and files
Domain Name System (DNS)
The system responsible for translating domain names like example.com into IP
addresses
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
A protocol for computers to request and share the pages that make up the world wide
web on the Internet
Digital Divide
Differing access to computing devices and the Internet, based on socioeconomic,
geographic, or demographic characteristics
Comment
Form of program documentation written into the program to be read by people and
which do not affect how the program runs
Binary
A way of representing information using only two options.
Bit
A contraction of "Binary Digit"; the single unit of information in a computer,
typically represented as a 0 or 1
Byte
8 bits
Overflow Error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large.
Round-off Error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded.
Analog Data
LATEST UPDATE
User Interface
The inputs and outputs that allow a user to interact with a piece of software, can
include a variety of forms, such as buttons, menus, images, text, and graphics
Input
Data that are sent to a computer for processing by a program. Can come in a variety of
forms, such as tactile interaction, audio, visuals, or text
Output
Any data that are sent from a program to a device. Can come in a variety of forms, such as
tactile interaction, audio, visuals, or text
Sequential Programming
Program statements run in order, from top to bottom
Event-driven Programming
Some program statements run when triggered by an event, like a mouse click or a key
press
Program Statement
A command or instruction. Sometimes also referred to as a code statement
Program
A collection of program statements. Programs run (or "execute") one command at a
time
Documentation
A written description of how a command or piece of code works or was developed
Computing Device
A machine that can run a program, including computers, tablets, servers, routers, and
smart sensors
Computing System
A group of computing devices and programs working together for a common purpose
Computing Network
A group of interconnected computing devices capable of sending or receiving data.
Path
Series of connections between computing devices on a network starting with a sender
and ending with a receiver
Bandwidth
The maximum amount of data that can be sent in a fixed amount of time, usually
measured in bits per second.
Protocol
An agreed-upon set of rules that specify the behavior of some system
IP Address (Internet Protocol Address)
The unique number assigned to each device on the Internet.
Internet Protocol (IP)
A protocol for sending data across the internet that assigns unique numbers (IP
Addresses) to each connected device
Router
A type of computer that forwards data across a network
Redundancy
, The inclusion of extra components so that a system can continue to work even if
individual components fail, for example by having more than one path between any two
connected devices in a network.
Fault tolerant
Can continue to function even in the event of individual component failures. This is
important because elements of complex systems like a computer network fail at unexpected
times, often in groups.
Data Stream
Information passed through the internet in packets.
Packet A chunk of data sent over a network. Larger messages are divided into packets that
may arrive at the destination in order, out of order, or not at all.
Packet Metadata
Data added to packets to help route them through the network and reassemble the
original message.
(TCP) Transmission Control Protocol
A protocol for sending packets that does error-checking to ensure all packets are
received and properly ordered
(UDP) User Datagram Protocol
A protocol for sending packets quickly with minimal error-checking and no resending
of dropped packets
Scalability
The capacity for the system to change in size and scale to meet new demands
World Wide Web
A system of linked pages, programs, and files
Domain Name System (DNS)
The system responsible for translating domain names like example.com into IP
addresses
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
A protocol for computers to request and share the pages that make up the world wide
web on the Internet
Digital Divide
Differing access to computing devices and the Internet, based on socioeconomic,
geographic, or demographic characteristics
Comment
Form of program documentation written into the program to be read by people and
which do not affect how the program runs
Binary
A way of representing information using only two options.
Bit
A contraction of "Binary Digit"; the single unit of information in a computer,
typically represented as a 0 or 1
Byte
8 bits
Overflow Error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too large.
Round-off Error
Error from attempting to represent a number that is too precise. The value is rounded.
Analog Data
