Coding for Kids Glossary

Simplifying a complex system by focusing on essential features and hiding unnecessary details.

A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or completing a task.

A visual programming approach using interlocking graphical blocks instead of typed text commands.

A data type with only two values: true or false, used to control program decisions.

An error or defect in a program that causes it to behave unexpectedly or incorrectly.

The process of writing instructions in a programming language that a computer can execute.

A problem-solving approach using decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms.

A programming statement that executes different actions depending on whether a condition is true or false.

The process of identifying, analyzing, and removing errors from a computer program.

Breaking a complex problem into smaller, more manageable parts that can be solved individually.

An action such as a key press or mouse click that a program can detect and respond to.

A reusable block of code that performs a specific task and can be called by name.

Data or signals received by a program from an external source such as a keyboard or sensor.

Repeating a process or set of instructions, refining the outcome with each cycle.

A programming structure that repeats a set of instructions a specified number of times or until a condition is met.

A symbol or keyword that performs an operation on values, such as addition, comparison, or logical AND/OR.

The result produced by a program, such as text on a screen, a sound, or a movement.

A practice where two programmers work together at one computer, with one typing and the other reviewing.

A value passed into a function or custom block that customizes its behavior each time it is used.

Identifying similarities or regularities in problems that can be exploited to find efficient solutions.

A formal set of instructions and syntax rules used to communicate commands to a computer.

A free block-based visual programming language developed by MIT for teaching coding to children.

Arranging instructions in a specific order so a program produces the desired result.

A programmable graphical object in environments like Scratch that can move, change costume, and interact.

A named storage location in a program that holds a value which can change during execution.