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17.11: Glossary

  • Page ID
    16941
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    instance:
    A member of a set. The TurtleWorld in this chapter is a member of the set of TurtleWorlds.
    loop:
    A part of a program that can execute repeatedly.
    encapsulation:
    The process of transforming a sequence of statements into a function definition.
    generalization:
    The process of replacing something unnecessarily specific (like a number) with something appropriately general (like a variable or parameter).
    keyword argument:
    An argument that includes the name of the parameter as a “keyword.”
    interface:
    A description of how to use a function, including the name and descriptions of the arguments and return value.
    refactoring:
    The process of modifying a working program to improve function interfaces and other qualities of the code.
    development plan:
    A process for writing programs.
    docstring:
    A string that appears in a function definition to document the function’s interface.
    precondition:
    A requirement that should be satisfied by the caller before a function starts.
    postcondition:
    A requirement that should be satisfied by the function before it ends.

    This page titled 17.11: Glossary is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Allen B. Downey (Green Tea Press) .

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