AP Computer Science & Technology Flashcards

What does the term 'pseudocode' refer to in AP Computer Science?

Answer: An informal, high-level description of an algorithm's logic

Pseudocode is a plain-language description of an algorithm's steps, not tied to any specific programming language.

In AP CS Principles, which of the following is an example of a heuristic?

Answer: An approximate solution strategy that is fast but may not be perfect

A heuristic is a problem-solving approach that finds a good-enough solution quickly without guaranteeing optimality.

What is the role of an operating system on a computer?

Answer: To manage hardware resources and provide services to application software

An operating system manages CPU, memory, and storage resources and provides an interface for running applications.

Which type of error occurs when a program runs but produces incorrect results?

Answer: Logic error

A logic error allows a program to run without crashing but produces wrong output due to flawed reasoning in the code.

What does 'open source' software mean?

Answer: Software whose source code is publicly available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute

Open source software has publicly accessible source code that can be freely used, modified, and redistributed under a license.

In computing, what is a byte?

Answer: A unit of 8 bits

A byte consists of 8 bits and is the standard unit for measuring digital data storage and processing.