Programming terms starting with P

98 terms

package A group of files that modify Windows features. Package types include service packs, security updates, language packs, and hotfixes.
package access See package.
package declaration A declaration used to name a package. This must be the first item in a source file, preceding any import statements. For instance, package java.lang;
PAD Short for "scratchpad".
parallel programming A style of programming in which statements are not necessarily executed in an ordered sequence but in parallel.
parameter A value or measurement that varies with circumstances, and is used as a reference to quantify a situation or a process.
parameter entity An entity that consists of DTD specifications, as distinct from a general entity.
parent class See "base class".
parse tree See "syntax tree".
parsed entity A general entity that contains XML and therefore is parsed when inserted into the XML document, as opposed to an unparsed entity.
parser A module that reads in XML data from an input source and breaks it into chunks so that your program knows when it is working with a tag, an attribute, or…
parsing Usually applied to the action of a compiler in analyzing a program source file for syntax errors.
Passivation A chemical reaction that eliminates the detrimental effect of electrically reactive atoms on a photovoltaic cell's surface.
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.
PCS (Personal Communications Service) Personal Communications Service (PCS) is a suite of second-generation, digitally modulated mobile-communications interfaces that includes TDMA, CDMA, and…
PDAP (Personal Digital Assistant Profile) The Personal Digital Assistant Profile (PDAP) is a Java ME profile specification designed for small platforms such as PalmOS devices.
PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) is a Japanese standard for wireless communications.
PDCP (Parallel and Distributed Computing Practices) Parallel and Distributed Computing Practices (PDCP) are often used to describe computer systems that are spread over many devices on a network (wired or…
peer an individual having expertise in a specific functional area or discipline gained through documented training and experience.
peripheral devices Devices attached to a computer, such as printers, disk drives, mice, etc.
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.
persistence Ability of an organism to remain in a particular setting for a period of time after it is introduced.
persistent field A virtual field of an entity bean that has container-managed persistence; it is stored in a database.
Personal Profile The Personal Profile is a Java ME profile specification. Layered on the Foundation Profile and CDC, the Personal Profile will be the next generation of…
PersonalJava PersonalJava is a Java environment based on the Java virtual machine (JVM) and a set of APIs similar to a JDK 1.1 environment.
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.
pixel Picture Element.
platform A generic radar term, often used to encompass the pedestal and antenna assembly; sometimes including the radar control, display and analysis hardware and…
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is an image format offering lossless compression and storage flexibility.
POA Power of Attorney - formal assignment to another of the right to legally act on your behalf
POD (1) Plan of the Day. (2) Probability of Detection. (3) Port of Debarkation.
point-to-point messaging system A messaging system built on the concept of message queues. Each message is addressed to a specific queue; clients extract messages from the queues…
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…
polling The process of repeatedly testing until a condition becomes true. Polling can be inefficient if the time between tests is short compared with the time it…
polymorphism (PAH-lee-MOR-fih-zum) A common variation or mutation in DNA.
popup menu A menu of actions that is normally not visible on the screen until a mouse button is clicked.
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…
POSE (Palm OS Emulator) Palm OS Emulator (POSE).
POSIX Portable Operating System Interface.
post-decrement operator See decrement operator.
post-increment operator See increment operator.
postfix An "operator" that follows its "operand", as in $x++.
PP (1) Parallel Processing. (2) Principal Polarization. (3) Post Processing. (4) Program Plan.
pragma A standard module whose practical hints and suggestions are received (and possibly ignored) at compile time. Pragmas are named in all lowercase.
PRC (Palm Resource Code) Palm Resource Code (PRC) is the file format for Palm OS applications.
pre-decrement operator See decrement operator.
pre-increment operator See increment operator.
precedence 1. A designator, which indicates the order in which a number of messages shall be served.
precedence rules The rules that determine the order of evaluation of an expression involving more than one operator.
preempt The currently executing thread may be preempted, or forced to yield control, by a higher priority thread that becomes eligible to run during its timeslice.
prefix An "operator" that precedes its "operand", as in ++$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".
preverification Due to memory and processing power available on a device, the verification process of classes are split into two processes.
primary key One or more attributes whose values uniquely identify a row in a database table. See also foreign key.
primitive type Java's eight standard non-class types are primitive types: boolean, byte, char, double, float, int, long and short.
Principal Face value of an obligation, such as a bond or a loan, that must be repaid at maturity.
priority level Each thread has a priority level, which indicates to the scheduler where it should be placed in the pecking order for being run.
private A Java keyword used in a method or variable declaration. It signifies that the method or variable can only be accessed by other elements of its class.
privilege A benefit or advantage to certain persons beyond the advantages of other persons, i.e., an exemption, immunity, power, etc.
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.
processing instruction Information contained in an XML structure that is intended to be interpreted by a specific application.
profile A sectional view showing grades and distances, usually taken along the centerline.
profiles A profile is a collection of Java APIs that complements one or more Java 2 Platform Editions by adding domain-specific capabilities.
program counter A program counter is an integral part of a computer's Central Processing Unit. It contains a reference to the memory address of the next instruction to be…
program generator A system that algorithmically writes code for you in a high-level language. See also "code generator".
programmatic security Security decisions that are made by security-aware applications. Programmatic security is useful when declarative security alone is not sufficient to…
progressive matching Pattern matching that picks up where it left off before.
prolog The part of an XML document that precedes the XML data. The prolog includes the declaration and an optional DTD.
propagation The duplication of a whole plant from a range of vegetative materials; adapted for in vitro culture as micropropagation.
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…
protected A Java keyword used in a method or variable declaration. It signifies that the method or variable can only be accessed by elements residing in its class…
protected access Protected access is available to a class member prefixed with the protected access modifier.
protected statement A statement within the try clause of a try statement.
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…
Provisioning Provisioning is the act of putting a grid component into the active state so that it is available to a consumer of the service or resource it supplies.
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`.
PSTN (public service telephone network) The public service telephone network (PSTN) is the traditional, land-line based system for exchanging phone calls.
public A Java keyword used in a method or variable declaration. It signifies that the method or variable can be accessed by elements residing in other classes.
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".
public interface The members of a class prefixed with the public access modifier. All such members are visible to every class within a program.
public key certificate A unique electronic stamp stored in a Notes or Domino ID file that associates a name with a public key.
publish/subscribe messaging system A messaging system in which clients address messages to a specific node in a content hierarchy, called a topic.
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.
punctuation Symbols such as commas and semicolons, which a compiler uses to understand the structure of a program.
PV A "pointer value", which is Perl Internals Talk for a char*.