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javascript python golang java php lua c#

programming concepts

  • computer science: the study of computation, information and automation

  • variable: the name given to a memory location

  • field: data encapsulated within a class or object

  • function: block of reusable code

  • method: function that is associated with an object (defined inside a class)

  • function signature: defines name of the function/method, parameters (types and order) and output

  • pass by value: copy of the actual value is passed to the function

  • pass by reference: reference or pointer to the original data is passed, so modifications affect the original

  • abstraction: simplification of complex operations by focusing on essential features while hiding unnecessary details

    • examples:
      • interfaces that define what an object can do without specifying how
      • functions that hide complex implementations behind simple names
      • classes that represent real-world concepts in simplified form

  • encapsulation: bundling data and methods that operate on that data within a single unit, restricting direct access to some of an object's components

    • hides internal details and provides an interface to interact with the object
    • examples:
      • classes that bundle data (fields) and behavior (methods)
      • modules that group related functions and variables
      • objects that protect their internal state with getters/setters

  • polymorphism: ability of different object or functions to respond to the same interface or method call in different ways

    • allows the same operation to behave differently on different classes or data types
    • types:
      • compile time polymorphism (aka static polymorphism): resolved during compile time
        • function overloading: multiple functions with the same name but different parameters
      • runtime polymorphism
      • method overloading: same method name but different parameter lists within the same class
      • operator overloading: redefining how operators work with user-defined types

method overloading:

class Printer {
    void print(String s) {
        System.out.println(s);
    }
    void print(int i) {
        System.out.println(i);
    }
}

  • inheritance: a class derives properties and behavior from another class

  • primitives: fundamental data types that are not composed of other data types

    • e.g. integers, floating-point numbers, characters, booleans, null or undefined values

  • namespace: declarative region that provides a scope to the identifiers (names of types, functions, variables) inside it

  • anonymous function: function that is defined without name

    • used as arguments to other functions
    • commonly used in functional programming
    • also known as lambda functions in many languages (e.g. python, java)

  • higher-order functions: function that takes one or more functions as arguments and/or return a function

  • first-class citizen: entities that can be:

    • created at runtime
    • passed as arguments to other functions
    • returned as values from other functions
    • stored in data structures
    • used as values in expressions

  • prototype-based approach to object-oriented programming:

    • style where objects are created by cloning existing objects (prototypes) rather than instantiating classes
      • objects can directly inherit from other objects
      • there are no classes; instead, objects serve as prototypes for other objects
      • new objects can be created by copying an existing object and then modifying it
      • this allows for more flexibility and dynamic behavior compared to classical class-based oop

  • no-code: programming approach to create software applications without writing any code at all

    • instead use visual interfaces, drag-and-drop tools, etc
    • examples: Bubble, Adalo, Zapier

  • low-code: create software with minimal coding required

    • examples: microsoft powerapps, salesforce lightning

  • idempotent: operation that has the same effect no matter how many times it is performed

  • stateful: maintains information (state) about past events or user interactions

    • examples:
      • web sessions that remember user login status
      • database connections that maintain transaction state
      • objects that keep track of their internal state

  • stateless: each operation is independent, no memory of previous interactions

  • caching: storing data somewhere that is faster to access

  • weakly typed language: language where types are implicitly converted or ignored

    • e.g. javascript, php

  • strongly typed languages: language where operations between incompatible types aren't allowed without explicit convertion

    • e.g. python, java, c#, golang