Fundamentals of programming
Fundamentals of Programming
Basic Concepts of Programming
- Programming is the process of creating computer programs which perform specific tasks.
- Program is a set of instructions that a computer follows in order to achieve a specific operation.
- Language Syntax: These are the rules governing the structure of statements in a specific programming language.
- Input and Output are the essential parts of any programming process; input represents the data a program receives while output signifies the data it produces.
Variables and Data Types
- Variables are placeholders used to store information that can be changed during the course of a program.
- Data Types: Variables can possess different types of data such as integers (whole numbers), floating point numbers (numbers with decimal points), Strings (sequences of characters), and Booleans (True/False).
Control Structures
- Conditional statements (if statements): use conditions to decide what should happen next.
- Loops (while, for): used when a certain block of code needs to be repeated multiple times.
- Sequence: executing instructions in order.
- Selection: deciding which path to take based on meeting a certain condition.
Functions and Subroutines
- Functions/Subroutines: a named sequence of instructions that performs a certain task; functions can return a value whereas subroutines simply perform tasks without returning anything.
- The use of functions and subroutines helps in code reusability and program organization.
Error Detection and Correction
- Logic Errors: The program runs without crashing, but produces incorrect output.
- Syntax Errors: The program contains invalid code that cannot be compiled.
- Runtime Errors: Errors which occur while the program is running.
Algorithms
- An algorithm is a step-by-step set of operations to be performed to solve a specific task or problem.
- Algorithms can be represented in different ways, including flowcharts and pseudocode.