KEY PRIMARY COMPUTING TERMS AND CONCEPTS EXPLAINED
Abstraction
Taking the detail out of a 'problem' to make it easier to solve
Algorithm
Steps to follow to achieve a task
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Computer systems that can behave intelligently, reason, and learn like humans.
Incl. understanding language, recognising images, solving problems and making decisions
Boolean
A variable whose value can only be true or false
Browser
A computer program used to access the World Wide Web
Checksum
The total number of packets sent to/from a router
Code
See Program
Computer
A device that takes input, processes it, then produces output
Computational Thinking
An analytical approach to 'problem' solving (involving abstraction, decomposition, logical thinking, pattern, evaluation, generalisation)
Condition
Statements that only run under certain conditions (e.g. IF...THEN...ELSE)
CSS
Cascading Style Sheets – How web content is styled (Eg. font, colour etc.)
Debug
Finding and correcting errors
Data
Numbers that represent images, video, text and sound
Decomposition
Splitting things into smaller parts
Evaluation
Is this 'good'? Can it be improved?
FTP
File Transfer Protocol. A service for moving files
Function
A set of commands in computer programs that are grouped together and given a name so that they can be used more than once in a program
Generalisation
Creating a general solution that can be applied to a variety of specific problems
Hub
A device that joins a group of computers together
HTML
Hyper Text Markup Language: the 'code' used to create and lay out web pages
Information
Data processed and/or presented to users in a meaningful way. For example, a large list of numbers is meaningless unless it is presented as, say, the ages of pupils in a class
Input
A method of computers receiving data (Eg. keyboard, mouse, touch, sensors etc,)
Internet
A network of connected computers
IP Address
Numerical label assigned to each device on a computer network
ISP
Internet Service Provider. The company you pay to connect you to the Internet
LAN
Local Area Network. Computers connected together that are geographically close to each other (e.g. home or school)
Logical Reasoning/Thinking
Using rules to solve problems
Machine Learning (ML)
The process of teaching a computer to solve a problem. Incl. learning and improving with experience using input data and algorithms.
Model
A pretend version of something that we can use to help us understand how it works. It can be used to explore different ideas and scenarios.
Network
A group of computers that are connected (including the Internet)
Output
A response made by computers to the user (Eg. audio (sound), visual (images), motion)
Packet
Small pieces of data (text, pictures, sound)
Pattern
Finding and using repetition
Program
Instructions written in a language (code) computers can understand
PRIMM
An approach for teaching programming.
Predict ➜ Run ➜ Investigate ➜ Modify ➜ Make
Repetition
Instructions that can be repeated until a condition is met – i.e. a loop
Search
Finding data that satisfies condition(s)
Selection
A way in computer programs to make choices (e.g. IF..THEN)
Sequence
A set of instructions that are followed in order
Simulation
A type of computer model that shows how something might work in the real world. You interact with the model and make changes to see what happens
Software
Computer programs and applications (apps)
TCP/IP
Language computers use to communicate
URL
Uniform Resource Locator: a nickname (address) for a website
Variables
Names given to things we want the computer to store (remember). Eg. scores.
WAN
Wide Area Network. Computers connected together that are geographically far apart, even in different countries. The Internet is an example.
Web Server
A computer connected to the Internet that provides access to (hosts) websites
Web Site
A collection of web pages
World Wide Web (WWW)
All of the web pages on the Internet, accessed using a web browser
Wired
Devices that are connected using wires, usually cables
Wireless
Devices that are connected without wires or cables. They communicate via radio waves