Perl terms starting with P

43 terms

package A group of files that modify Windows features. Package types include service packs, security updates, language packs, and hotfixes.
PAD Short for "scratchpad".
parameter A value or measurement that varies with circumstances, and is used as a reference to quantify a situation or a process.
parent class See "base class".
parse tree See "syntax tree".
parsing Usually applied to the action of a compiler in analyzing a program source file for syntax errors.
patch A downloadable update that fixes bugs, improves stability and introduces new features to a program.
path The hierarchical description of where a directory, folder, or file is located on a computer or network.
pathname The path to a file or directory located on a disk. Pathnames are always specific to the computer operating system.
pattern Can describe where active fish are holding, or what techniques are working to catch fish, especially larger fish.
Pattern Matching A generic term that describes any process that compares one files content with another files content.
permission bits Bits that the "owner" of a file sets or unsets to allow or disallow access to other people.
Pern What you get when you do Perl++ twice. Doing it only once will curl your hair. You have to increment it eight times to shampoo your hair.
pipe A circular conduit constructed of any one of a number of materials that conveys water by gravity or under pressure.
pipeline A series of processes all in a row, linked by pipes, where each passes its output stream to the next.
platform A generic radar term, often used to encompass the pedestal and antenna assembly; sometimes including the radar control, display and analysis hardware and…
POD (1) Plan of the Day. (2) Probability of Detection. (3) Port of Debarkation.
Pointer A pointer is an index entry in the directory of a disc (or other storage medium) that identifies the space on the disc in which an electronic document or…
polymorphism (PAH-lee-MOR-fih-zum) A common variation or mutation in DNA.
Port An implanted device through which blood may be withdrawn and drugs may be infused without repeated needle sticks. Also called port-a-cath.
portable Portability is the quality of a program that makes it possible to run it on different types of computers.
porter Someone who "carries" software from one "platform" to another. Porting programs written in platform-dependent languages such as C can be difficult work…
POSIX Portable Operating System Interface.
postfix An "operator" that follows its "operand", as in $x++.
PP (1) Parallel Processing. (2) Principal Polarization. (3) Post Processing. (4) Program Plan.
pragma A standard module whose practical hints and suggestions are received (and possibly ignored) at compile time. Pragmas are named in all lowercase.
precedence 1. A designator, which indicates the order in which a number of messages shall be served.
prefix An "operator" that precedes its "operand", as in ++$x.
preprocessing What some helper "process" did to transform the incoming data into a form more suitable for the current process. Often done with an incoming "pipe".
procedure The rules for the conduct of a lawsuit; there are rules of civil, criminal, evidence, bankruptcy, and appellate procedure.
process A method of making something, a process of operating something or a process of using something. Under U.S. law, one of the statutory classes of inventions.
program generator A system that algorithmically writes code for you in a high-level language. See also "code generator".
progressive matching Pattern matching that picks up where it left off before.
property For this survey, property means real estate; that is, land and anything permanently affixed to the land, such as buildings and those things attached to…
protocol An action plan for a clinical trial. The plan states what the study will do, how, and why.
prototype An optional part of a "subroutine" declaration telling the Perl compiler how many and what flavor of arguments may be passed as "actual arguments", so…
pseudofunction A construct that sometimes looks like a function but really isn't. Usually reserved for "lvalue" modifiers like my, for "context" modifiers like scalar…
pseudohash A reference to an array whose initial element happens to hold a reference to a hash.
pseudoliteral An "operator" that looks something like a "literal", such as the output-grabbing operator, `command`.
public domain Something not owned by anybody. Perl is copyrighted and is thus not in the public domain--it's just "freely available" and "freely redistributable".
pumpkin A notional "baton" handed around the Perl community indicating who is the lead integrator in some arena of development.
pumpking A "pumpkin" holder, the person in charge of pumping the pump, or at least priming it. Must be willing to play the part of the Great Pumpkin now and then.
PV A "pointer value", which is Perl Internals Talk for a char*.