Programming — page 3 of 14

1,381 terms including subtopics (0 terms filed directly here)

Subtopics

Java 983 terms
Perl 498 terms

Programming terms

collating sequence The order into which characters sort. This is used by "string" comparison routines to decide, for example, where in this glossary to put "collating…
command For command-oriented functions, the authorization required to perform command operations. 55
command buffering A mechanism in Perl that lets you store up the output of each Perl "command" and then flush it out as a single request to the "operating system".
command name The name of the program currently executing, as typed on the command line. In C, the "command" name is passed to the program as the first command-line…
command-line argument Arguments passed to a program when it is run. A Java program receives these in the single formal argument to its main method public static void…
command-line arguments The values you supply along with a program name when you tell a "shell" to execute a "command". These values are passed to a Perl program through @ARGV.
comment A piece of text intended for the human reader of a program. Compilers ignore their contents.
commit To send a person to prison, asylum or reformatory by a court order.
Common Gateway Interface The Common Gateway Interface (CGI) is a standard that allows Web clients to interact with programs on a Web server.
compilation The process of translating a programming language. This often involves translating a high level programming language into a low level programming…
compilation unit The smallest unit of source code that can be compiled. In the current implementation of the Java platform, the compilation unit is a file.
compile phase Any time before Perl starts running your main program. See also "run phase". Compile phase is mostly spent in "compile time", but may also be spent in…
compile time The time when Perl is trying to make sense of your code, as opposed to when it thinks it knows what your code means and is merely trying to do what it…
compiler A program which performs a process of compilation on a program written in a high level programming language.
complement operator The complement operator, ~, is used to invert the value of each bit in a binary pattern. For instance, the complement of 1010010 is 0101101.
component Subsystem, assembly, or subassembly of logically grouped hardware and software, that performs interacting tasks to provide BMDS capability at a functional…
component (JavaServer Faces technology) See JavaServer Faces UI component.
component contract The contract between a J2EE component and its container. The contract includes life-cycle management of the component, a context interface that the…
component-managed sign-on A mechanism whereby security information needed for signing on to a resource is provided by an application component.
composer A "constructor" for a "referent" that isn't really an "object", like an anonymous array or a hash (or a sonata, for that matter).
compositing The process of superimposing one image on another to create a single image.
concatenation The process of gluing one cat's nose to another cat's tail. Also, a similar operation on two strings.
concurrency Part of an acquisition strategy which combines or overlaps two or more phases of the acquisition process, or combines development T&E with operational T&E.
condition A health problem with certain characteristics or symptoms.
conditional Something "iffy". See "Boolean context".
conditional operator A symbol or keyword specifying how to compare values. Conditional operators are used to query a database.
Configuration The number, shape, organization and relationship of panes (lights) of glass, sash, frame, muntins or tracery.
connection The physical connection (e.g. transmission lines, transformers, switch gear, etc.
connection factory See resource manager connection factory.
connection handshake An exchange of messages between two processes in an attempt to establish a connection between them.
connector A hold'em starting hand in which the two cards are one apart in rank. Examples: KQs, 76.
Connector architecture An architecture for integration of J2EE products with enterprise information systems.
const A reserved Java keyword not used by current versions of the Java programming language.
constant A variable whose value may not be changed. In Java, these are implemented by final variables.
construct An engineered chimeric DNA designed to be transferred into a cell or tissue. Typically, the construct comprises the gene or genes of interest, a marker…
constructor A constructor is automatically called when an instance of its class is created.
Container In the Exchange Administrator program, an object that contains other objects. For example, the Recipients container is composed of recipient objects.
container-managed persistence The mechanism whereby data transfer between an entity bean's variables and a resource manager is managed by the entity bean's container.
container-managed sign-on The mechanism whereby security information needed for signing on to a resource is supplied by the container.
container-managed transaction A transaction whose boundaries are defined by an EJB container. An entity bean must use container-managed transactions.
content In an XML document, the part that occurs after the prolog, including the root element and everything it contains.
context The surroundings, or environment. The context given by the surrounding code determines what kind of data a particular "expression" is expected to return.
context attribute An object bound into the context associated with a servlet.
context root A name that gets mapped to the document root of a Web application.
continuation a second application for the same invention claimed in a prior nonprovisional application and filed before the first application becomes abandoned or…
continue A Java keyword used to resume program execution at the end of the current loop. If followed by a label, continue resumes execution where the label occurs.
continue statement A statement that may only be used inside the body of a loop. In the case of a while loop or do loop, control passes immediately to the loop's terminating…
continuous simulation In a continuous simulation, time ticks past at a regular rate that is applicable to the particular simulation scenario.
control structure A statement that affects the flow of control within a method. Typical control structures are loops and if statements.
conversational state The field values of a session bean plus the transitive closure of the objects reachable from the bean's fields.
copy constructor A constructor taking a single argument of the same class. For instance public class Point { // Use p's attributes to initialize this object.
CORBA Common Object Request Broker Architecture.
core class A public class (or interface) that is a standard member of the Java Platform. The intent is that the core classes for the Java platform, at minimum, are…
core dump The corpse of a "process", in the form of a file left in the "working directory" of the process, usually as a result of certain kinds of fatal error.
core packages The required set of APIs in a Java platform edition which must be supported in any and all compatible implementations.
coupling The phase state in which either two dominant or two recessive alleles of two different genes occur on the same chromosome. Synonym: cis configuration.
CPAN The Comprehensive Perl Archive Network. (See "What modules and extensions are available for Perl? What is CPAN? What does CPAN/src/... mean?" in perlfaq2).
cracker Someone who breaks security on computer systems. A cracker may be a true "hacker" or only a "script kiddie".
create method A method defined in the home interface and invoked by a client to create an enterprise bean.
credentials Also called access credentials or security credentials. In authentication and authorization, a system uses credentials to identify who is making a call…
critical section A section of code in which there is potential for a race hazard. Critical sections make use of the synchronized methods or statements.
CSS Cascading Style Sheet - a technology used for webpages to format fonts and control layouts on the computer display.
CTS (1) Clear To Send ( TelComm /Computer term). (2) Contact Test Set (USA IFTE term).
curly brackets See block.
current package The "package" in which the current statement is compiled. Scan backwards in the text of your program through the current lexical scope or any enclosing…
current working directory See "working directory".
currently selected output channel The last "filehandle" that was designated with select(FILEHANDLE); "STDOUT", if no filehandle has been selected.
cursor A graphic pointer used with a mouse to point to a location on a terminal screen.
CV (1) Carrier Vehicle. (2) USN Aircraft Carrier. (3) Curriculum Vitae.
CVM (Compact Virtual Machine) The Compact Virtual Machine (CVM) is an optimized Java virtual machine (JVM) that is used by the CDC.
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.