| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| abstraction | The process of reducing complexity by focusing on main ideas and hiding irrelevant details to allow focus on the essential concept. |
| analog data | Data that have values changing smoothly and continuously over time, such as pitch, volume, or position. |
| binary | A base-2 number system that uses only the digits 0 and 1 to represent data. |
| bit | Shorthand for binary digit; the smallest unit of data in computing, represented as either 0 or 1. |
| byte | A unit of digital data consisting of 8 bits. |
| constants | Fixed data values that do not change during program execution. |
| data | Information represented in a form that can be processed by a program, such as numbers, text, or records. |
| decimal | A base-10 number system that uses the digits 0-9 to represent data. |
| fixed number of bits | A predetermined, limited quantity of bits allocated to represent a data value in programming languages, which constrains the range of representable values. |
| integers | Whole numbers (positive, negative, or zero) that are represented in programming languages using a fixed number of bits. |
| number bases | Different systems for representing numerical values, such as binary (base 2) and decimal (base 10). |
| overflow | An error that occurs when a computed value exceeds the maximum value that can be represented by a fixed number of bits. |
| place value | The numeric value assigned to a digit's position in a number, determined by the base raised to the power of the position. |
| real numbers | Numbers that include both integers and decimal values, represented in programming languages with a fixed number of bits as approximations. |
| roundoff error | An error that occurs when real numbers are approximated in computer storage due to limitations in the fixed number of bits used to represent them. |
| sampling | A technique for approximating analog data digitally by measuring values of an analog signal at regular intervals. |
| variable | A named container in a program that stores a value which can be changed through assignment. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| bit | Shorthand for binary digit; the smallest unit of data in computing, represented as either 0 or 1. |
| data compression algorithms | Methods or procedures used to reduce the number of bits needed to represent data while maintaining or approximating the original information. |
| lossless data compression | A compression algorithm that reduces the number of bits stored or transmitted while guaranteeing complete reconstruction of the original data. |
| lossy data compression | A compression algorithm that significantly reduces the number of bits stored or transmitted but only allows reconstruction of an approximation of the original data. |
| redundancy | Repetition or unnecessary duplication in data representation that can be reduced through compression. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| bias | Prejudice or systematic error in computing innovations that can result from algorithms or data, reflecting existing human prejudices. |
| causal relationship | A relationship where one variable directly causes changes in another variable, as opposed to merely being correlated. |
| conclusion | A judgment or decision reached by analyzing and interpreting data from one or more sources. |
| correlation | A relationship between two variables in data where changes in one variable are associated with changes in another. |
| data | Information represented in a form that can be processed by a program, such as numbers, text, or records. |
| data cleaning | The process of making data uniform and consistent without changing their meaning, such as standardizing abbreviations, spellings, and capitalizations. |
| data set | A collection of related data values organized for processing and analysis. |
| data sources | Origins or locations from which data are collected or obtained. |
| facts | Specific pieces of information or observations that form the basis of data. |
| incomplete data | Data sets that are missing required information or values. |
| information | The collection of facts and patterns extracted from data that provides meaning and insight. |
| invalid data | Data that does not meet required standards or formats and cannot be properly processed. |
| metadata | Data that describes other data, such as the date of creation or file size of an image, used for finding, organizing, and managing information. |
| parallel systems | Computing systems that process data simultaneously across multiple processors or computers to handle large data sets efficiently. |
| pattern | Regularities or recurring structures that emerge from data when processed and analyzed using programs. |
| primary data | The main data itself, which remains unchanged even if its associated metadata is modified or deleted. |
| scalability | The ability of a solution to maintain or improve performance as the problem size or computational resources increase. |
| trends | General directions or tendencies in data over time or across categories. |
| variable | A named container in a program that stores a value which can be changed through assignment. |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| classifying | A data processing technique that organizes data into categories or groups based on shared characteristics. |
| clean | To process digital data by removing errors, inconsistencies, or irrelevant information to improve data quality. |
| clustering | A data processing technique that groups similar data points together to identify patterns and relationships. |
| combining data | The process of merging or aggregating multiple data elements, such as adding up values or comparing records to find patterns. |
| data | Information represented in a form that can be processed by a program, such as numbers, text, or records. |
| data filtering | The process of selecting specific elements from a data set based on defined criteria to find information and recognize patterns. |
| filter | To process digital data by selecting or removing specific elements based on criteria to gain insight and knowledge. |
| filtering a data set | The process of keeping only the elements in a data set that meet specific conditions, such as selecting only positive numbers or records matching certain criteria. |
| information | The collection of facts and patterns extracted from data that provides meaning and insight. |
| insight | Understanding or knowledge gained from analyzing and processing data using programs. |
| pattern | Regularities or recurring structures that emerge from data when processed and analyzed using programs. |
| search tools | Programs or features that efficiently locate specific information within a data set. |
| spreadsheets | Programs that organize data in rows and columns to efficiently manage, analyze, and identify trends in information. |
| transforming | Modifying or restructuring digitally represented information using programs to reveal patterns and insights. |
| transforming data | The process of modifying every element in a data set according to a rule, such as doubling values or adding information to records. |
| translating | Converting digitally represented information from one format or representation to another to gain insight. |
| visualizing data | The process of representing data through charts, graphs, or other visual representations to communicate insights and patterns. |