Reference

A

Abstract Class

An abstract class cannot be instantiated.

Aggregation

Indicate a whole-part relationship, and are known as "has-a" relationships.

Algorithm

A well-defined computational procedure that takes some value, or set of values, as input and produces some value or set of values, as output and through these steps the input is transformed into the output. (Paraphrased from Introduction to Algorithms, page 5.)

Array

A data structure fixed in size that holds a collection of elements. Each array element is identified by its position in the collection (index number or element index).

ASP.Net

A unified Web development model for building Web applications that is part of the .NET Framework.

Association

A generic relationship between two classes.

B

Base 10

Ten symbols (numbers) to represent ten values (0-9).

Base 2

Two symbols to represent values: a one or a zero.

Binary

A base-2 numeral system or binary numeral system number. Values are expressed with only two symbols: 0 and 1. (Video)

Bit

A single binary number.

Boolean

A data type with a binary value (such as: true or false, 1 or 0, or on and off).

Byte

Eight bits (8 bits can hold a value from 0-255 which is 256 values).

C

Case sensitive

If something (such as a programming language) is case sensitive, it means that it treats a lowercase letter as different than an uppercase version of the same letter.
For example, apple and Apple would not be considered equal. However, Apple and Apple would be equal.
Case sensitivity is important to note when programming in a language like C#. In the following code example CustomMethod() and customMethod() would be treated as calls to two different methods.

MyObject.CustomMethod();
MyObject.customMethod();

C#

A language developed by Microsoft to work with the .Net platform. It was evolved from C and C++.

Character

A data type that stores a single character.

Class

A template of a type of object.

Class Diagram

Class diagrams identify the class structure of a system, including the properties and methods of each class.

Code Block

A code block (or statement block) is enclosed in curly braces {}. It can contain nested blocks.

Comment

Comments are notes inserted by the programmer that are ignored by the compiler. They can be used for many reasons such as explaining why a particular approach was taken in solving a solution, or what still needs to be added to complete the program. Comments often help outline the programmer's thought process.
Single-line comments start with two slashes //.
Comments that can span multiple lines start with a slash and an asterisk /* and end with an asterisk and a slash */.

// Example of a single-line comment

/* Example of a multi-line
 * comment that spans
 * multiple lines
*/

Compiler

The compiler produces executable (.exe) files. (It can also create dynamic-link libraries or code modules).

Compiled

Compiled Language: A compiled language is one that is used primarily to created an executable (.exe), dynamic-link library (dll), or other component that has been compiled into machine code. Compiling a program into native code ahead-of-time (AOT), or just-in-time (JIT) can be more efficient and faster than a program that uses an interpreter to run. As languages can often be compiled or interpreted, this label typically refers to a language that is used mainly for compiled code. An interpreted language is one that is used primarily to create code that requires an interpreter to run. Examples of languages usually compiled: C and C++. Examples of languages usually interpreted: Python and JavaScript. (Learn more...)

Composition

If a class cannot exist by itself, and instead must be a member of another class, then that class has a Composition relationship with the containing class.

Concatenation

The operation of joining two things together. String concatenation in c# is adding two strings together with an operator.

Conditional Statement

A statement that controls execution flow. See if statement and switch.

Console.WriteLine()

Writes the current line terminator to the standard output stream.

Console.ReadLine()

Reads the next line of characters from the standard input stream.

Console.ReadKey()

Obtains the next character or function key pressed by the user.

Constant

A variable that has a value that won't change.

CPU (Central Processing Unit)

The hardware within a computer that carries out program instructions. The clock rate is the speed that instructions are executed (generally noted in terms of hertz).

D

Declare

State the data type (Char, String, Array, Integer, etc.) and a name.

Dependency

A class depends on another class when it uses it as a member variable or parameter.

Dot Notation

A programming syntax that uses the dot operator to indicate relationships. For example:

• Call a method of a class using the format: Class.Method()
• Call the method of a specific object using the format: ObjectInstanceIdentifier.Method()

Code example:

Console.WriteLine("Hello");
MyObject.CustomMethod();

Double

A number that allows a decimal point for greater precision, and that is larger than a float. In C# a double stores 64-bit floating-point values (range: ±5.0 x 10^-324 to ±1.7 x ¹⁰³⁰⁸, precision: 15-16 digits).

E

Encapsulation

A group of related members (properties, methods, etc) are treated as a single unit or object. Encapsulation separates its external (public) behavior from its internal (private) implementation details.

F

Field

Information about a class (attributes or properties of a class).

Floating-Point Number

A data type that stores a number with greater range - including numbers that aren't whole and that use a decimal point to indicate precision. For example, a floating-point number could store a price (such as 12.53) or the value of pi (3.14159265359). In c# a float is a type that stores a 32-bit floating-point value (range: ±1.5 x 10-45 to ±3.4 x 1038, precision: 7 digits), and that requires the use of an f in the value (example: float pi = 3.14159265359f).

FlowBoard

A combination of a flowchart and storyboard.

Flowchart

A visual representation that can be helpful in designing and understanding the flow of a process, and that typically indicates decision points and potential paths.

FTP

File Transfer Protocol: a way to transfer files from one location to another.

Function

A series of statements performing a logical operation or set of operations. A function is defined once, and can be used multiple times by calling or invoking it. Functions may accept one or more parameters and may return a value. The basic structure of a function is: access modifier return value identifier (parameters){body}.

G

Generalization

A generalization relationship is the equivalent of an inheritance relationship in object-oriented terms (an "is-a" relationship).

Gigabyte

1024 megabytes (over 1 billion bytes)

H

Hexadecimal

A numeral system that has 16 values, from 0 to F. One common use of hexadecimal is to express colors in languages like CSS. The numeric representation of a color is preceded by a hash mark (#), and is in the format of RR GG BB. 0 represents the darkest color, and F represents the lightest, so that #000000 is black and #ffffff is white. #333333 is a darker grey, and #eeeeee is a lighter grey.
Examples: the color #ff0000 is red (equal to RGB 255,0,0), #00ff00 is green, and #0000ff is blue.

HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language)

A language that structures document elements.

I

IDE

Integrated Development Environment: software that allows you to write, compile, and debug as you develop applications.

Identifier

Names programmers choose for their classes, methods, variables, etc.

if Statement

Statement or statements are run if the evaluation of a test expression is true. Example: if (total== 100){ //statement to run if total is equal to 100}.

Initialize

Provide an initial value.

Integer

A data type that stores a whole number.

Interpreted

An interpreted language is one that is used primarily to create code that requires an interpreter to run. Examples of languages usually interpreted: Python and JavaScript. (See also: compiled)

Instance

A specific object instantiated from a class.

J

Java

A language and technology platform created by Sun Microsystems.

K

Keywords

Names reserved by the compiler.

Kilobyte

1024 bytes

L

Literal

A primitive piece of data

Logic Error

An error that produces unintended behavior, yet the code compiles and runs. This type of error is generally a mistake in the programmer's logic; statements have been designed to inadvertently do something that wasn't what they intended.

Loop

The repeated execution of a statement or statements. Common loops: for, while, and do while.

M

Megabyte

1024 kilobytes (over 1 million bytes)

Memory

Two main types of memory: RAM and ROM. Random access memory (RAM) is volatile and requires power to retain; when the computer is turned off what is in RAM is lost. Read only memory (ROM) is longer term storage and is used for boot programs, hard disks, external drives, etc.; the information stored remains when the power to the system is shut off.

N

Namespace

A logical unit of organization that is used to separate a particular programming interface from others. (Read more and see code example)

O

Object

An instance of a class.

OOP

Object-Oriented Programming: models a problem by organizing it as a collection of discrete objects, how the objects interact, and what the relationships between the objects are.

Operator

An operator is a symbol that produces an action.

Order of Operations

Order of operations determines which procedures are performed first in a given mathematical expression. Precedence can be controlled using parentheses.

P

Polymorphism

Multiple classes used interchangeably; each class implements the same properties or methods in different ways.

Pseudocode

A set of instructions in plain English. It does not use any language-specific syntax, and is easily understood.

Q

Quicksort

A divide and conquer algorithm that splits data into two fairly equal parts; low elements and high elements. The parts are then recursively sorted. Learn more and see examples at Rosetta Code.

R

Recursion

Something defined in terms of itself (or its type). In programming, recursive is often used to describe a structure that calls itself.

S

Statement

An action; single lines that end in a semicolon, or a series of lines in a code block.

Storyboard

A visual tool traditionally used for linear work - capturing the key frames of an animation, film or other time-based visual medium.

String

A data type that stores a string of characters.

Switch

A conditional statement that allows the testing of multiple values, however the test is limited to discrete values. Read more...

Syntax Error

An error in programming language's syntax. This type of error is usually caught by a compiler or an IDE and is generally easier to debug than a logic error.

T

Terabyte

1024 gigabytes (over 1 trillion bytes)

Ternary Operator

An operator that works on three operands. Example:

string mood = (this.HappinessLevel > 0) ? "happy" : "unhappy";

Thread

A thread is what an operating system allocates processor time to. Multiple threads can run in a process (operating systems use processes to separate the running applications). Multi-threading allows your application to essentially "multi-task". If you would like to use threads, see the MSDN Threading Tutorial. Read more...

U

UML (Unified Modeling Language)

A standardized general-purpose modeling language that includes a set of graphic notation techniques to create visual models of object-oriented software systems.

Unary Numeral System

The simplest numeral system to represent natural numbers. Each number is represented by a mark.
Example: |, ||, |||, ||||, |||||, ||||||, etc.

using directive

The using directive has a few purposes. The first allows the use of types in a namespace without having to specify the namespace.
For example:

using System;
namespace Example
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

Otherwise:

namespace Example
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            System.Console.ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

The scope of the using directive is the file in which it appears.
Another way the using directive is helpful is that it allows access to static elements without having to fully qualify the name.
For example:

using static System.Console;
namespace Example
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            ReadKey();
        }
    }
}

Advanced: The using statement can also be used to create an alias for a namespace of a type (using alias directive), and when an IDisposable object is declared and instantiated to ensure that Dispose is called even if an exception occurs while you are calling methods on the object.

V

Variable

A storage location and an associated name (identifier) associated with a value and whose associated value may be changed; a variable can store dynamic (changing) information. The information stored is referenced using the variable name.

W

X

XML (Extensible Markup Language)

A markup language derived from SGML that can be used to markup data, and to create other languages.

Y

Z

. (DOT)

. (Dot Operator)

The dot operator specifies a member of a type or namespace. For example:

System.Console.ReadLine();

.cs

The file extension .cs indicates a file that has C# code.

.csproj

The file extension .csproj indicates a C# project.

.exe

The file extension .exe indicates an executable application.

.NET Framework

The .NET Framework is a software framework developed by Microsoft.

.sln

The file extension .sln is for a solution file which contains information Visual Studio uses to load the solution, projects within the solution, and any persisted information attached to the solution (a solution is a structure for organizing projects in Visual Studio).