Glossary

Abstraction

Separating ideas from instances of those ideas. Something abstract is generic and is not a concrete or physical thing.

Activity

A process taking place.

Argument

A value or reference being passed into a method call.

Assign

Giving a value to a variable or field - i.e. foo = 5;

Association

A relationship between classes.

Autos Window

A window in the debugger that shows information it guesses to be relevant.

Breakpoint

A debugging tool that stops an application in a specific place when it is run.

Bool

True or false. Used for evaluating yes/no questions. Ex. true, false

C#

A general purpose and object-oriented programming language.

Call Stack Window

A window in the debugger that shows the levels of method calls, with the lowest level being the first call and the highest level being the current spot in the application.

Casting

"Transforming" or "morphing" an object into a different type. Objects can be cast into more generic or more specialized types.

Class

A template for creating objects. A class is to an object as a blueprint is to a house.

Compiler Error

An issue in code that prevents an application from properly building and running.

Compiler Warning

An issue in code that will not prevent an application from properly building, but may indicate other possible errors.

Debug

To process of going through code to identify and solve an issue.

Decimal

A fractional number ending with "m". Used for both large and precise numbers such as money balances. Ex 5.25m

Decision

A conditional statement.

Define

Creating a field or variable with no value - i.e. public int Foo;

Double

A fractional number with an optional decimal point. Used for measuring things such as height, width, weight, temperature. Ex. 5.25

Encapsulation

The idea of hiding information.

Exception

An event that occurs during runtime that disrupts the regular flow of an application.

Feedback System

The automated system used to process student assignments.

Field

Attributes that define a class.

Go To Definition

F12. Locates where a certain "thing" is defined in code.

Inheritance

Basing one object/class on another. Similar to the classification of animals.

Instance

An instance is a singular occurrence of a thing. In code, the keyword 'new' instantiates new instances of classes. The instance is unrelated to anything else. This is much like how when you open up a new window of a browser or file explorer, that is a new instance of that program.

Instantiate

Create an instance of a class - i.e. new Bar();

Int

A whole number. Used for counting things such as quantity. Ex. 5

Interface

Made up of methods and properties that do not declare any implementation. Classes that implement an interface must implement all members of that interface.

Locals Window

A window in the debugger that shows information present in the file the application is currently located in.

Member

Any "thing" within a class. This includes fields, methods, constructors, properties, etc.

Method Call

Used when a particular object needs to "do something". Controls the main flow of the application.

Method

Makes code "do stuff". Defines the behaviors of a class.

Name

A word that a something is referred to as.

"null"

The value of an object when its value has not been assigned yet.

NullReferenceException

Does not have a reference. If an object without another reference to is is assigned null the object will no longer be in memory. If the an object has another reference to it, the reference to the object no longer exists, but the object will still exist.

Object Lifeline

Used in sequence diagrams. Signifies an object is going to either make a call or be called on.

Object Reference

When an object is assigned to a field or variable.

Object

An instance of a class. An object is to a class as a house is to a blueprint.

Object-oriented

Modeling the world in objects, which group data and behavior together.

Parameter

Information that a method needs in order to properly function, usually passed in as an argument in a method call.

Pass by Reference

Passing an object reference into a method call gives that parameter access to all of the visible members of that particular object.

Pass by Value

Passing a value into a method call assigns the matching parameter to that value.

Polymorphism

The idea that a single object can be used in different ways, and different objects can be used the same way.

Property

Allows other classes/objects to have to ability to read or change the private values of a class/object.

Return

Exits the current method and goes back to where it was called with a value or reference.

Scope

The code region in which a variable or field can be referred to.

Step Into

F11. Makes the debugger move into the next line of code in the sequence, going into any of its details.

Step Over

F10. Makes the debugger execute a line of code without going into any of its details.

String

Alphanumeric or text data. Used for things such as name, address, description. Ex. "Foo"

StyleCop Warning

A comestic issue that doesn't follow the rules of the style guide.

StyleCop

An analyzer package used to help follow style rules when writing code.

"this"

The current instance of the current class.

Type

Indicates how a field/variable/etc. is intended to be used.

UML Activity Diagram

Represents the actions/logic of a single method in code.

UML Class Diagram

Represents an application's structure. Is the "blueprint" of an application.

UML Object Diagram

Represents a particular point in time when an application is running.

UML Sequence Diagram

Represents the flow of method calls and returns in an application.

UML

Unified Modeling Language. A standardized way of modeling software systems.

UML Line Types

Is associated with defines a "has a" relationship between classes. A city has a TownHall.

Inherits from indicates one class inherits from another. Orchid inherits from Flower.

Implements interface indicates a class implements an interface. Bowl implements IWashable.

Is composed of indicates a class is compsosed of another. Face is composed of Nose.

Variable

A local value/reference that only exists in the scope of its definition.

Violet

A program used to make UML diagrams.

Visibility

The level of access for a particular class/field/method/etc.

Visual Studio

An IDE (integrated development environment) that allows the writing and editing of code.