Glossary

Of

Programming

By: Hana Hany Hamed

 Introduction

This glossary is concerned with the field of programming. Programming was chosen as the specialized

topic since it is more central to an issue that is widely discussed and relatable to many people. This

glossary is aimed at intermediate-level programmers and others interested in programming, by providing

programming-related words that can be difficult to comprehend. This glossary aims to provide a list of

important programming terminology with meanings, word classes, pronunciation, and transcription.

These terms, which are all taken from five different articles, are listed alphabetically. Links to the

dictionaries that were used to define the terms have been provided, along with hyperlinks to them. A

total of five websites, three specialized glossaries, and eight generic dictionaries were utilized. The

definitions are taken directly from the used supplemental sources, and at the end, a reference page is

included so that users can go to the original sources for additional information and details.
The main elements of this glossary are:
• Underlined hyperlinked terms

• Organized in alphabetical order

• Term-specific abbreviations for word classes

1) Noun: (n.)

2) Verb: (v.)

3) Adjective: (adj.)

4) Countable noun: (c) (n)

5) Uncountable noun (u) (n)

• Accurate definitions

• Pronunciation and transcription

• URL link to the source where each definition was extracted

 Glossary
Term Pronunciation/ Word Definition Link
Transcription class

1. Abstraction (n.) A way to reduce complexity https://

and allow efficient design and developer.mozilla.org/
implementation in complex en-US/docs/Glossary/
software systems. Abstraction

æbˈstrækʃən

2. Algorithm (n.) The instructions explaining https://

(c.) how to solve a problem, like a onlinegrad.syracuse.ed
recipe or navigation. In u/blog/coding-terms-
computer science, algorithms for-beginners/
tell computers how to
calculate or process
ælgəˌrɪðəm
information using ordered
directions in a language they
can read. For example, a
search engine uses an
algorithm to take the input
(the search terms) and return
results.

3. APPLICATION (n.) Code that acts as a broker to https://

PROGRAMMING (c.) let different web applications onlinegrad.syracuse.ed
INTERFACE (API): exchange information with u/blog/coding-terms-
one another. Users typically for-beginners/
send a request to the API for
æpləˈkeɪʃən
data on its server, which it
ˈproʊˌgræmɪŋ
sends back, usually as a JSON
ˈɪntərˌfeɪs
object.

4. BUG (n.) An error in the code that https://

(c.) causes a program to crash or onlinegrad.syracuse.ed
return the incorrect output. u/blog/coding-terms-
“Debugging” is the process of for-beginners/
finding and correcting
bʌg
 mistakes.

5. Code (n.) A system or language for https://

expressing information and www.collinsdictionary.c
instructions in a form which om/dictionary/
can be understood by a english/code
computer.
ˈkōd
6. Compiler (n.) A computer program that https://www.merriam-
(c.) translates an entire set of webster.com/
instructions written in a dictionary/compiler
higher-level symbolic
language (such as C) into
kəmˈpaɪlər
machine language before the
instructions can be executed.

7. Computational (n.) Study of the problem-solving https://

thinking skills and tactics involved in www.webopedia.com/
writing or debugging software definitions/
programs and applications. computational-
thinking/
ˌkɑmpjuˈteɪʃənəl
ˈθɪŋkɪŋ

8. Compute (v.) Refers to the hosting model https://

for the resources that your learn.microsoft.com/
application runs on. en-us/azure/
architecture/guide/
technology-choices/
kəm-ˈpyüt
compute-decision-tree

9. computer (n.) The machine performs it https://

programme (c.) automatically without citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/
intervention from the user. document?
repid=rep1&type=pdf&
doi=fffaed8f98da11d4c
kəmˈpjutər
6fb3d692dc0ffd41736f
 ˈproʊˌgræm 209

10. Computer (n.) A branch of science that deals https://www.merriam-

science (u.) with the theory of webster.com/
computation or the design of dictionary/computer
computers. %20science

kəmˈpjutər
ˈsaɪəns

11. Computer (n.) A collection of hardware and https://

system (c) software that performs www.webopedia.com/
specific tasks. definitions/computer-
system/

kəmˈpjutər
ˈsɪstəm

12. Concurrency (n.) A theory that allows a central https://

theory processing unit (CPU) to run www.webopedia.com/
multiple tasks simultaneously definitions/
over a certain period of time. concurrency/
These tasks or processes do
kən-ˈkər-ən(t)-sē
not depend on each other.
ˈθɪri

13. Cybersecurity (n.) Measures taken to protect a https://www.merriam-

(u.) computer or computer webster.com/
system (as on the Internet) dictionary/
against unauthorized access cybersecurity
or attack.
ˈsī-bər-si-ˌkyu̇r-ə-tē
14. Database system (n.) A storing system that collects https://
(c.) organized data, to make some developer.mozilla.org/
works easier like searching, en-US/docs/Glossary/
structure, and extend. Database

ˈdeɪtəˌbeɪs
ˈsɪstəm
15. Deadlock (n.) Occurs when two or more https://
(u.) tasks permanently block one learn.microsoft.com/
another because each task en-us/azure/azure-
has a lock on a resource the sql/database/analyze-
other task is trying to lock. prevent-deadlocks?
view=azuresql&tabs=ri
ˈded-ˌläk
ng-buffer

16. Digital computer (n.) A computer that operates https://www.merriam-

(c.) with numbers expressed webster.com/
directly as digits. dictionary/digital
%20computer

ˈdɪʤətəl
kəm-ˈpyü-tər
17. Direct (n.) It’s used to optimize https://
Manipulation responsiveness and reduce learn.microsoft.com/
latency through off-thread en-us/previous-
input processing, optional off- versions/windows/
thread input hit testing, and desktop/
dəˈrɛkt
input/output prediction. directmanipulation/
məˌnɪpjəˈleɪʃən
direct-manipulation-
portal

18. Editor (n.) A computer program that https://

(c.) enables you to change and www.collinsdictionary.c
correct stored data. om/dictionary/
english/editor

ˈe-də-tər

19. Formal language (n.) A language designed for use https://

in situations in which natural www.collinsdictionary.c
language is unsuitable, as for om/dictionary/
example in mathematics, english/formal-
logic, or computer language
ˈfȯr-məl ˈlaŋ-gwij
programming.
20. Functionality (n.) A function or range of https://
functions in a computer, www.collinsdictionary.c
program, package, etc. om/dictionary/
english/functionality

ˌfəŋ(k)-shə-ˈna-lə-tē

21. GITHUB (n.) An open-source software https://

sharing system based on Git, onlinegrad.syracuse.ed
which manages the revision u/blog/coding-terms-
history of a program. for-beginners/

ˈɡɪt.hʌb

22. HTML (n.) A markup language that is https://www.merriam-

used to create documents on webster.com/
the World Wide Web dictionary/HTML
incorporating text, graphics,
sound, video, and hyperlinks.
āch-(ˌ)tē-(ˌ)em-ˈel

23. Informatics (n.) The study of information https://

processing; computer science. www.collinsdictionary.c
om/dictionary/english/
informatics

ˌin-fər-ˈma-tiks

24. Information (n.) Computing the combined https://

processing processing of numerical data, www.collinsdictionary.c
graphics, text, etc. om/dictionary/english/
information-processing

ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən
ˈprɑsɛsɪŋ
25. Information- (n.) a powerful programming https://
hiding technique because it reduces www.webopedia.com/
complexity and is also used definitions/
to prevent programmers from information-hiding/
intentionally or
ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən
unintentionally changing
ˈhaɪdɪŋ
parts of a program.

26. Instruction set (n.) Also called a command set, https://

(c.) the basic set of commands, or www.webopedia.com/
instructions, that a definitions/instruction-
microprocessor understands. set/

ɪnˈstrʌkʃən sɛt

27. Large data set (n.) Refers to data sizes in the https://
(c.) order of TBs to PBs. learn.microsoft.com/
en-us/azure/storage/
common/storage-
solution-large-dataset-
moderate-high-
lɑrʤ ˈdeɪtə sɛt
network

28. Memory (n.) Is one of the services that the https://

Management Common Language Runtime learn.microsoft.com/
provides during Managed en-us/dotnet/
Execution. standard/automatic-
memory-management
ˈmɛməri
ˈmænəʤmənt
29. Misinterpretatio (n.) Failure to understand or https://www.merriam-
n interpret something correctly. webster.com/
dictionary/
misinterpretation

mɪsɪnˌtɜrprəˈteɪʃn

30. Modeler (n.) Is meant to help system https://

(c.) architects and developers learn.microsoft.com/
design and create en-us/archive/msdn-
applications. magazine/2000/june/
serving-the-web-
designing-apps-using-
ˈmä-dᵊl
visual-modeler-in-
visual-basic

31. Modifiability (n.) His specifies whether a https://

localizer tool allows a value to learn.microsoft.com/
be modified. en-us/dotnet/
desktop/wpf/
advanced/localization-
attributes-and-
mɒdɪfaɪəˈbɪləti
comments?
view=netframeworkdes
ktop-4.8

32. Nonnumerical (adj.) Not containing or involving https://

numbers. www.collinsdictionary.c
om/dictionary/
english/nonnumerical

ˌnän-nu̇-ˈmer-i-kəl
33. Notation (n.) An open source supply chain https://
(u.) tool developed by the Notary learn.microsoft.com/
Project, which supports en-us/azure/container-
signing and verifying registry/container-
container images and other registry-tutorial-sign-
nō-ˈtā-shən
artifacts. build-push

34. object-oriented (n.) A type of computer https://www.merriam-

programming in which webster.com/
programs are composed of dictionary/object-
objects which communicate oriented
with each other, which may %20programming
be arranged into hierarchies,
ˈäb-jikt-ˌȯr-ē-ˌen-
and which can be combined
təd
to form additional objects.

35. Programmer (n.) A person who prepares and https://www.merriam-

tests programs for devices webster.com/
(such as computers). dictionary/programmer

ˈprō-ˌgra-mər
36. Programming (n.) A process of translating from https://
the citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/
language convenient to document?
human beings to the repid=rep1&type=pdf&
language convenient to the doi=fffaed8f98da11d4c
ˈprō-ˌgra-miŋ computer. 6fb3d692dc0ffd41736f
209

37. Programming (n.) A vocabulary and set of https://

language (c.) grammatical rules for www.webopedia.com/
instructing a computer or definitions/
computing device to perform programming-
specific tasks. language/
ˈprō-ˌgra-miŋ ˈlaŋ-
gwij
38. Prolog (n.) A high-level programming https://
language based on formal www.webopedia.com/
logic. definitions/prolog/

ˈprō-ˌlȯg
39. Python (n.) An interpreted, object- https://
oriented programming www.webopedia.com/
language. definitions/python/

ˈpī-ˌthän
40. Queuing theory (n.) A mathematical approach to https://
the rate at which components www.collinsdictionary.c
queue to be processed by a om/dictionary/
machine, instructions are english/queuing-theory
accessed by a computer,
orders need to be serviced,
ˈkjuɪŋ ˈθɪri
etc, to achieve the optimum
flow.

41. Refactoring (v.) Improving the design of https://

existing software code. www.webopedia.com/
Refactoring doesn’t change definitions/refactoring/
the observable behavior of
the software; it improves its
riːˈfæktərɪŋ
internal structure.

42. Retrieval system (n.) A system for recovering https://

specific information from www.collinsdictionary.c
stored data. om/dictionary/english/
information-retrieval-
system
rɪˈtrivəl ˈsɪstəm

43. S.O.L.I.D (n.) An acronym for five principles https://

that you can use to make learn.microsoft.com/
your code easier to extend: en-us/dynamics365/
Single responsibility, fin-ops-core/dev-
Open/closed, Liskov itpro/extensibility/
ˈsä-ləd
substitution, Interface writing-extensible-code
segregation, and Dependency
inversion.
44. Single (n.) An object should only have https://
Responsibility one reason to change; the learn.microsoft.com/
Principle longer the file or class, the en-us/archive/msdn-
more difficult it will be to magazine/2014/may/
(SRP)
achieve this. csharp-best-practices-
ˈsɪŋgəl
dangers-of-violating-
riˌspɑnsəˈbɪləti
solid-principles-in-
ˈprɪnsəpəl
csharp

45. Software (n.) A branch of computer science https://www.merriam-

engineering that deals with the design, webster.com/
implementation, and dictionary/software
maintenance of complex %20engineering
computer programs.
ˈsɔfˌtwɛr ˈɛnʤə
ˈnɪrɪŋ

46. Software system (n.) Refers to the operating https://

(c.) system and all utility www.webopedia.com/
programs that manage definitions/systems-
computer resources at a low software/
level.
ˈsɔfˌtwɛr ˈsɪstəm

47. Stepwise (adj.) Marked by or proceeding in https://www.merriam-

steps : GRADUAL. webster.com/
dictionary/stepwise

ˈstep-ˌwīz
48. Supercomputer (n.) The fastest type of computer. https://
(c.) Supercomputers are very www.webopedia.com/
expensive and are employed definitions/
for specialized supercomputer/

ˈsü-pər-kəm-ˌpyü- applications that require

tər immense amounts of
 mathematical calculations.

49. SYNTAX (n.) Similar to the grammar rules https://

of any spoken language, onlinegrad.syracuse.ed
syntax is the rules of a u/blog/coding-terms-
programming language that for-beginners/
determine how it should be
ˈsin-ˌtaks
written.

50. UX (USER (n.) A qualitative measurement of https://

EXPERIENCE) how a user interacts with a onlinegrad.syracuse.ed
web page, application or u/blog/coding-terms-
software. Coders should for-beginners/
consider the end user at all
ˌjuːˈeks
times when creating a
ˈjuzər ɪkˈspɪriəns
product.

References

Bunch, Z. (2022, March 30). Simplifying Single-Responsibility Principle - Zack Bunch - Medium. Medium.
https://medium.com/@zackbunch/simplifying-single-responsibility-principle-9b57051477b3

Knuth, D. E. (2011). Computer programming as an art. In Computer Programming as an Art (p. 1974).
https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/1283920.1283929

Blackwell, A. (2002). What is Programming? https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?

repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=fffaed8f98da11d4c6fb3d692dc0ffd41736f209
Denning, P. J., Comer, D. E., Gries, D., Mulder, M. C., Tucker, A., Turner, A. J., & Young, P. R. (1989b).
Computing as a discipline. Computer, 22(2), 63–70.
https://www.mta.ca/~rrosebru/oldcourse/163107/denningcs99.pdf

Wiebe, E., Williams, L., Yang, K., & Miller, C. (n.d.-b). Computer Science Attitude Survey.
https://repository.lib.ncsu.edu/bitstream/handle/1840.4/778/TR-2003-01.pdf

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Dictionary by Merriam-Webster. In Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-

webster.com/

Collins Online Dictionary | Definitions, Thesaurus and Translations. (2023). In Collins Dictionaries.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/