Content Area 2: Introduction to Programming

Question 1

What are program data types?

Answer 1

Fundamental classifications of data that determine the type of values a variable can hold and the operations that can be performed on it. Common data types include: string, character, integer, real/float, and Boolean.

Question 2

What is a string data type?

Answer 2

A sequence of characters used to represent text.

Question 3

What is a character data type?

Answer 3

A single symbol.

Question 4

What is an integer data type?

Answer 4

A whole number (positive, negative, or zero) without a decimal point.

Question 5

What is a real/float data type?

Answer 5

A number that can have a decimal point.

Question 6

What is a Boolean data type?

Answer 6

A logical data type that can have one of two values: True or False.

Question 7

What are constants in programming?

Answer 7

Fixed values that cannot be changed during the execution of a program. They are often used for values that are known and do not need to be modified.

Question 8

What are variables?

Answer 8

Named storage locations in memory that can hold data that can be changed during the execution of a program. They are given meaningful names to represent the data they store.

Question 9

What are data structures?

Answer 9

Ways of organising and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and used efficiently. Common data structures include: list, array, and dictionary.

Question 10

What is a list data structure?

Answer 10

An ordered sequence of items that can be of different data types and can be modified.

Question 11

What is an array data structure?

Answer 11

A collection of items of the same data type stored in contiguous memory locations, accessed using an index.

Question 12

What is a dictionary data structure?

Answer 12

A collection of key-value pairs, where each key is unique and used to access its corresponding value.

Question 13

What are local variables?

Answer 13

Variables that are declared and can only be accessed within a specific block of code, such as a function or procedure. They have a limited scope.

Question 14

What are global variables?

Answer 14

Variables that are declared outside any function or procedure and can be accessed from any part of the program.

Question 15

What are variable naming conventions?

Answer 15

Rules and best practices for naming variables to make code more readable and understandable. Common conventions include using meaningful names, consistent case, and underscores.

Question 16

What are operators in programming?

Answer 16

Symbols or keywords that perform operations on one or more operands (values or variables).

Question 17

What are mathematical operators?

Answer 17

Symbols used to perform arithmetic calculations, such as add (+), subtract (-), divide (/), multiply (*), integer division (//), and modulus (%).

Question 18

What are relational operators?

Answer 18

Symbols used to compare two values. They evaluate to a Boolean value (True or False). Common relational operators include: equal to (==), not equal to (<>), less than (<), greater than (>), less than or equal to (<=), and greater than or equal to (>=).

Question 19

What are Boolean operators?

Answer 19

Logical operators used to combine or modify Boolean values. Common Boolean operators include: NOT, AND, and OR.

Question 20

What is file handling?

Answer 20

The process of reading data from and writing data to files stored on a computer’s storage.

Question 21

What are text files?

Answer 21

A type of file that stores data as plain text, where each line typically ends with a newline character. They are commonly used for input and output of data.

Question 22

What is program structure?

Answer 22

The way in which the different parts of a program are organised and how they control the flow of execution.

Question 23

What is sequence in programming?

Answer 23

A program structure where instructions are executed one after another in a linear order.

Question 24

What is selection (branching) in programming?

Answer 24

A program structure that allows the program to execute different blocks of code based on whether a condition is true or false. Common selection statements include IF, THEN, ELSE, ELSEIF (ELIF), and CASE.

Question 25

What is iteration (looping) in programming?

Answer 25

A program structure that allows a block of code to be executed repeatedly until a certain condition is met or for a set number of times. Common iteration constructs include 'For' loops and 'While' loops.

Question 26

What are functions?

Answer 26

Reusable blocks of code that perform a specific task. They can accept input values (parameters) and return an output value. Functions must be declared (defined) before they can be called (executed).

Question 27

What are procedures?

Answer 27

Reusable blocks of code similar to functions but typically do not return a value directly.

Question 28

What are standard searching algorithms?

Answer 28

Established methods for finding a specific item within a collection of items. Examples include linear search and binary search.

Question 29

What is linear search?

Answer 29

A searching algorithm that checks each item in a list sequentially until the target item is found or the end of the list is reached. It can be used on unsorted data.

Question 30

What is binary search?

Answer 30

An efficient searching algorithm that works on sorted data. It repeatedly divides the search interval in half.

Question 31

What are standard sorting algorithms?

Answer 31

Established methods for arranging items in a collection in a specific order (e.g., ascending or descending). Examples include bubble sort, insertion sort, and merge sort.

Question 32

What is bubble sort?

Answer 32

A simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through the list, compares adjacent elements and swaps them if they are in the wrong order.

Question 33

What is insertion sort?

Answer 33

A sorting algorithm that builds the final sorted array one item at a time. It inserts each element into its correct position in the already sorted part of the array.

Question 34

What is merge sort?

Answer 34

An efficient, general-purpose, comparison-based sorting algorithm. It divides the list into halves until each sub-list has one element, then repeatedly merges sub-lists.

Question 35

What are built-in functions?

Answer 35

Pre-written code provided by a programming language that performs specific tasks.

Question 36

What is pre-written code?

Answer 36

Code that has been developed and tested by others, which can be reused in new programs.

Question 37

What are standard libraries?

Answer 37

Collections of pre-written modules and functions that provide additional functionality beyond the built-in functions of a programming language.

Question 38

What is user-written code?

Answer 38

Code that is created by the programmer to perform specific tasks within their program.

Question 39

What is validation?

Answer 39

The process of checking if data meets certain criteria before it is processed to prevent errors and ensure data integrity.

Question 40

What is error handling?

Answer 40

The process of anticipating and managing errors that may occur during the execution of a program.

Question 41

What is a presence check?

Answer 41

A validation technique that ensures that a field has not been left empty.

Question 42

What is a length check?

Answer 42

A validation technique that ensures that data entered meets a specific length requirement (minimum or maximum number of characters).

Question 43

What is a type check?

Answer 43

A validation technique that ensures that the data entered is of the correct data type (e.g., number, text).

Question 44

What is a format check?

Answer 44

A validation technique that ensures that the data entered follows a specific pattern or format (e.g., email address, postcode).

Question 45

What is a range check?

Answer 45

A validation technique that ensures that a numerical value is within a specified range (minimum and maximum values).

Question 46

What is a check digit?

Answer 46

A single digit added to a number (e.g., a barcode) that is calculated from the other digits and used to detect errors during data entry or scanning.

Question 47

What is reliable code?

Answer 47

Code that consistently produces the expected output for valid inputs.

Question 48

What is robust code?

Answer 48

Code that can handle unexpected or invalid inputs gracefully without crashing.

Question 49

What is maintainable code?

Answer 49

Code that is easy to understand, modify, and debug over time.

Question 50

What are accepted style conventions?

Answer 50

Guidelines and best practices for formatting code to improve readability and maintainability.

Question 51

What is readable code?

Answer 51

Code that is easy for humans to understand due to clear formatting, meaningful variable names, and comments.

Question 52

What is testing?

Answer 52

The process of executing a program or system to find errors or defects and ensure that it meets the specified requirements.

Question 53

What is software testing?

Answer 53

The process of verifying that a software application functions as expected.

Question 54

What is hardware testing?

Answer 54

The process of verifying that the physical components of a system function as expected.

Question 55

What is data testing?

Answer 55

The process of verifying the integrity and accuracy of data used by a system.

Question 56

What is interface testing?

Answer 56

The process of verifying the communication and interaction between different components or systems.

Question 57

What is concept testing?

Answer 57

A type of testing used early in development to evaluate the viability and desirability of a product or feature.

Question 58

What is unit testing?

Answer 58

A testing method where individual units or components of a program are tested in isolation.

Question 59

What is boundary testing?

Answer 59

A testing method that focuses on testing the limits or boundaries of input values to check for errors.

Question 60

What is integration testing?

Answer 60

A testing method where multiple units or components of a program are combined and tested together to verify their interaction.

Question 61

What is performance testing?

Answer 61

A testing method used to evaluate the speed, responsiveness, and stability of a system under various workloads.

Question 62

What is system testing?

Answer 62

A testing method where the entire integrated system is tested to ensure it meets the overall requirements.

Question 63

What is acceptance testing?

Answer 63

A testing method conducted by the end-users or stakeholders to determine whether the system meets their needs and is ready for deployment.

Question 64

What is usability testing?

Answer 64

A testing method focused on evaluating how easy and effective it is for users to interact with a system.

Question 65

What is regression testing?

Answer 65

A testing method performed after changes or bug fixes have been made to the system to ensure that the changes have not introduced new defects or negatively affected existing functionality.

Question 66

What is load/stress testing?

Answer 66

A type of performance testing used to evaluate a system's behaviour under high levels of load or stress.

Question 67

What are automated testing tools?

Answer 67

Software tools that can execute tests and compare the results to expected outcomes automatically.

Question 68

What are functional testing tools?

Answer 68

Tools used to test the functionality of a system by providing inputs and verifying the outputs against the requirements.

Question 69

What is root cause analysis?

Answer 69

A problem-solving method used to identify the fundamental or underlying reasons for a problem. The 'five whys' is a common technique.

Question 70

What is a test plan?

Answer 70

A document that outlines the scope, objectives, approach, and schedule of testing activities, including identifying tests, test data, and expected results.

Question 71

What is test data?

Answer 71

The inputs used to execute tests, which can include valid, valid extreme, invalid, invalid extreme, and erroneous data.

Question 72

What are expected results?

Answer 72

The anticipated outcomes of executing a test case, which are compared with the actual results to determine if the test has passed or failed.

Question 73

What is debugging?

Answer 73

The process of identifying and correcting errors (bugs) in computer programs.

Question 74

What is an Integrated Development Environment (IDE)?

Answer 74

A software application that provides comprehensive facilities to computer programmers for software development. An IDE typically consists of a source code editor, build automation tools, and a debugger.