Programming terms starting with D

68 terms

daemon thread Daemon threads are non-user threads. They are typically used to carry out low-priority tasks that should not take priority over the main task of the…
dangling statement A bare, single "statement", without any braces, hanging off an if or while conditional. C allows them. Perl doesn't.
data A representation of facts, concepts, or instructions in a formalized manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by humans or by…
data structure How your various pieces of data relate to each other and what shape they make when you put them all together, as in a rectangular table or a…
data type The type of information that one field can store, for example, text, rich text, numbers, keywords, and time.
datagram A packet of information passed between two communicating processes across a network.
DBM Stands for "Data Base Management" routines, a set of routines that emulate an "associative array" using disk files.
DDP Document-driven programming. The use of XML to define applications.
De Morgan's Theorem Two rules that can help to simplify boolean expressions involving multiple logical-not operators in combination with other boolean operators.
deadlock A situation that arises when two threads each acquires the lock to one of a set of resources that they both need.
decimal Number representation in base 10. In base 10, the digits 0 to 9 are used. Digit positions represent successive powers of 10.
Deck A deck is a collection of one or more WML cards that can be downloaded, to a mobile phone, as a single entity.
declaration a document in which an applicant for patent declares, under penalty of fine or imprisonment, or both (18 USC 1001), that (1) he or she is the original or…
declaration and initialization A statement in which a variable is declared and immediately given its initial value.
declarative security Mechanisms used in an application that are expressed in a declarative syntax in a deployment descriptor.
Decrement A directed funding level reduction for an acquisition program.
decrement operator An operator (--) that adds one to its operand. It has two forms: pre-decrement (--x) and post-decrement (x--).
deep copy A copy of an object in which copies of all the object's sub-components are also made. The resulting object might, in effect, be a clone of the original.
Default Default occurs when a debtor is unable to meet the legal obligation of debt repayment, one form of which is the failure to promptly pay interest or…
default initial value The default value of any variable not explicitly initialized when it is declared.
default label The destination for all values used in a switch statement expression that do not have explicit case labels. A default label is optional.
defined 1. Fixed conditions of medium, environment and protocol for growth. 2. Precisely known and stated elements of a tissue culture medium.
definition A declaration that reserves storage (for data) or provides implementation (for methods). See also declaration.
delegation An assignment of administrative responsibility to a user, computer, group, or organization. [Exchange 2003]
delimiter A "character" or "string" that sets bounds to an arbitrarily-sized textual object, not to be confused with a "separator" or "terminator".
deployer A person who installs J2EE modules and applications into an operational environment.
deployment (1) The placement of force elements in battle positions to obtain a higher state of readiness.
deployment descriptor An XML file provided with each module and J2EE application that describes how they should be deployed.
deprecated Something that has been made obsolete by later versions of the API. Deprecated methods should not be used because there is no guarantee that they will…
deprecated modules and features Deprecated modules and features are those which were part of a stable release, but later found to be subtly flawed, and which should be avoided.
deprecation Refers to a class, interface, constructor, method or field that is no longer recommended, and may cease to exist in a future version.
dereference A fancy computer science term meaning "to follow a "reference" to what it points to".
derived class A "class" that defines some of its methods in terms of a more generic class, called a "base class".
derived from Class X is "derived from" class Y if class X extends class Y. See also subclass, superclass.
Descriptor See "file descriptor".
destination In spatial interaction, the location of the end of a trip. For example, a shop or an office where a consumer or a worker is going.
destroy To deallocate the memory of a "referent" (first triggering its DESTROY method, if it has one).
destructor A special "method" that is called when an "object" is thinking about destroying itself.
device A whiz-bang hardware gizmo (like a disk or tape drive or a modem or a joystick or a mouse) attached to your computer, that the "operating system" tries to…
Digest authentication An authentication method that prompts the user for a user name and a password, also called credentials, which are hashed with other data before being…
direct recursion Recursion that results from a method calling itself.
directive A "pod" directive. See perlpod.
Directory A simulated file folder or container used to organize files and directories in a hierarchical or tree-like structure.
directory handle A name that represents a particular instance of opening a directory to read it, until you close it. See the opendir function.
discrete simulation In a discrete simulation, time passes at an irregular rate that is determined by the primary events of interest in the simulation.
disk drive A hardware device used to store data. They come in many forms, such as compact disks, floppy disks and hard disks.
dispatch To send something to its correct destination. Often used metaphorically to indicate a transfer of programmatic control to a destination selected…
distributed Running in more than one address space.
distributed application An application made up of distinct components running in separate runtime environments, usually on different platforms connected via a network.
Distribution The sale of securities. Also refers to a sum payable to shareholders representing their share of profits.
divide and conquer An approach to problem solving that attempts to reduce an overall single large problem into multiple simpler problems.
DO Designated Office the national Office or intergovernmental organization of or acting for the Contracting State designated by the applicant under Chapter I…
do loop One of Java's three control structures used for looping. The other two are the while loop and for loop.
document Fed. R. Civ. P. 34(a) defines a document as including writings, drawings, graphs, charts, photographs, phonorecords, and other data compilations.
Document Object Model An API for accessing and manipulating XML documents as tree structures. DOM provides platform-neutral, language-neutral interfaces that enables programs…
document root The top-level directory of a WAR. The document root is where JSP pages, client-side classes and archives, and static Web resources are stored.
DOM See Document Object Model.
dotted decimal notation The notation used to represent the four byte values of an IP address. Each byte is represented as a value between 0 and 255, for instance 129.12.0.1.
Double Up System of Betting - A betting system whereby bets are doubled after a loss in hopes of recouping the previous loss.
double buffering A graphics technique used to smooth animation. The next version of an image is drawn `behind the scenes' and then displayed in its entirety when the…
double precision Refers to a high level of coordinate accuracy based on the possible number of significant digits that can be stored for each coordinate.
downcast A cast towards an object's dynamic type - that is, `down' the inheritance hierarchy.
DTD document type definition - a format specification file that accompanies documents prepared according to SGML (standard generalized markup language)…
durable subscription In a JMS publish/subscribe messaging system, a subscription that continues to exist whether or not there is a current active subscriber object.
dweomer An enchantment, illusion, phantasm, or jugglery. Said when Perl's magical "dwimmer" effects don't do what you expect, but rather seem to be the product of…
dwimmer DWIM is an acronym for "Do What I Mean", the principle that something should just do what you want it to do without an undue amount of fuss.
dynamic scoping Dynamic scoping works over a dynamic scope, making variables visible throughout the rest of the "block" in which they are first used and in any…
dynamic type The dynamic type of an object is the name of the class used to construct it. See static type.