General

Question 1

Abstract syntax tree

Answer 1

A tree model of the structure of a program without the implementation details; used as an intermediate representation during compilation

Question 2

Abstraction

Answer 2

A representation of something that hides its implementation details

Question 3

Application programming interface (API)

Answer 3

An interface that exposes some functionality for public use while hiding private or irrelevant code

Question 4

Assembly language

Answer 4

A low level language unique to the computer architecture that gets assembled directly into machine code

Question 5

Bit

Answer 5

The base unit of information which represents a logical state with one of two possible values

Question 6

Bitmap

Answer 6

An array of binary data representing the values of pixels in an image or display

Question 7

Blocking

Answer 7

Preventing the execution of a process until another is finished

Question 8

Compile time

Answer 8

When source code is translated into machine code

Question 9

Byte

Answer 9

Eight bits

Question 10

Bytecode

Answer 10

A low level language between source code and machine code that can be executed in a virtual environment

Question 11

Callback

Answer 11

A function passed as an argument to another function

Question 12

Closure

Answer 12

A function that captures (copies references to) its lexical environment for use outside of lexical scope

Question 13

Compilation

Answer 13

The translation of high level source code into machine code by the target machine; the entire program is compiled at once

Question 14

Control flow

Answer 14

The order in which expressions, statements, and function calls are executed or evaluated in a program

Question 15

Data flow

Answer 15

The path and transformation of data in a program

Question 16

Garbage collection

Answer 16

The process of reclaiming memory taken up by unused references

Question 17

Inter process communication (IPC)

Answer 17

Mechanisms that allow processes to synchronize their actions when using shared data

Question 18

Interface

Answer 18

A shared boundary across which two or more separate components of a computer system exchange information

Question 19

Interpretation

Answer 19

The translation of high level source code into an intermediary form like bytecode that can be executed in a virtual environment; the program is interpreted and executed one command at a time

Question 20

Just-in-time compilation (JIT)

Answer 20

Compilation at runtime rather than ahead of time

Question 21

Machine code

Answer 21

The binary computer language that gets executed directly by the CPU

Question 22

Pointer

Answer 22

A variable that stores the memory address of another variable

Question 23

Process

Answer 23

A program in execution

Question 24

Pure function

Answer 24

A function which:

1. Produces the same output for a given input (stateless)
2. Doesn’t produce any side effects (mutating variables, HTTP calls, etc)

Question 25

Recursion

Answer 25

A method for solving a problem whose solution depends upon solutions to smaller instances of the same problem (a function that performs some operation on its input and passes it back to itself until a stopping condition is met)

Question 26

Variable

Answer 26

Named memory that holds a piece of data

Question 27

Run time

Answer 27

When a program is executed

Question 28

Scope

Answer 28

The area of a program in which a given variable is accessible

Question 29

Serialization

Answer 29

Translating a data structure into a format that can be stored or transmitted over a network

Question 30

Statement

Answer 30

A complete line of code that performs some action

Question 31

Expression

Answer 31

Any section of code that evaluates to a value

Question 32

Thread

Answer 32

The smallest set of instructions within a process that can be executed independently

Question 33

Token

Answer 33

An object that represents the authority to perform some operation

Question 34

Transpilation

Answer 34

The translation of code from one language to another of a similar level of abstraction

Question 35

Virtual machine

Answer 35

A virtual environment that replicates a computer system in order to run software independently from the host computer

Question 36

Manifest

Answer 36

A file containing metadata (author, description, version, icons, etc) about an app

Question 37

Polyfill

Answer 37

A piece of code that adds functionality not natively supported by a particular browser