Definitions and Concepts for AQA Computer Science A-level
Topic 1: Fundamentals of Programming
1.1 Programming
1.1.1 Data Types
Arrays: A data structure for storing a finite, ordered set of data of the same data type within a
single identifier.
Boolean: A data type that can only store one of two possible values (1 or 0, TRUE or FALSE
etc.)
Character: A data type for storing a letter, number or special character..
Data Type: An attribute of data that determines what sort of data is being stored that tells the
compiler how it will be used in a program.
Date/Time: A data type for storing date or time values in an identifiable format.
Integer: A data type for storing whole number values (positive or negative) with no decimal
parts.
Language-Defined (Built-In) Data Types: A primitive data type provided by a programming
language.
Pointer/Reference: A data type used as a store for memory addresses of objects created at
runtime.✢
Real/Float: A data type for storing numbers with decimal or fractional parts.
Records: A data structure that stores related data items in elements called fields, organised
based on attributes.
String: A data type for storing a sequence of alphanumeric characters or symbols, typically
within quotation marks.
User-Defined Data Types: Custom data types designed by the user by combining existing
data types, for the bespoke needs of their program.
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1.1.2 Programming Concepts
Assignment: A statement for giving a created variable a value that is consistent with its data
type.
Constant Declaration: A statement for creating a constant in a program.
Iteration: A programming structure where a set of statements are repeated a fixed number of
times (definite iteration), or until a condition is met (indefinite iteration).
Nested Iteration: A programming structure of placing iteration loops within other iteration
loops.
Nested Selection: A programming structure of placing selection statements within other
selection statements.
Selection: A programming structure for deciding which statements to perform next based on
a certain condition or set of conditions.
Subroutines (Procedures/Functions): A uniquely named section of code that is written to
perform a specific task within a program that can be called by using its name in a
programming statement.
Variable Declaration: A statement for creating a variable in a program. The variable is
defined with a name and sometimes a data type.
1.1.3 Arithmetic Operations in a Programming Language
Addition: An arithmetic operator that returns the sum of two numeric values (integer or
floats).
Arithmetic Operator: An operator that takes two numeric values and performs some form of
mathematical manipulation (adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing) to return a numeric
value.
Exponentiation: An arithmetic operator that raises a numeric value to the power of another
numeric value and returns the result.
Integer Division: An arithmetic operator that divides a numeric value (integer or float) by
another but returns an integer quotient.
Modulo: An arithmetic operator that divides a numeric value (integer or float) by another and
returns the remainder.
Multiplication: An arithmetic operator that returns the product of two numeric values
(integers or floats).
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Real/Float Division: An arithmetic operator that divides a numeric value (integer or float) by
another and returns a Real/Float.
Rounding: An arithmetic operator that converts a real/float to a more approximate
representation that reduces the number of digits to represent the number by rounding up or
down to a given number of decimal places.
Subtraction: An arithmetic operator that returns the difference between two numeric values
(integers or floats).
Truncation: An arithmetic operator that reduces the number of digits to represent a real/float
by cutting off a number after a given number of decimal places.
1.1.4 Relational Operations in a Programming Language
Equal To: A relational operator that returns TRUE if and only if the two values in question are
the same.
Greater Than: A relational operator that returns TRUE if and only if the first value is larger
than the second.
Greater Than Or Equal To: A relational operator that returns TRUE if the first value is larger
than the second, or if they are equal.
Less Than: A relational operator that returns TRUE if and only if the first value is smaller
than the second.
Less Than Or Equal To: A relational operator that returns TRUE if the first value is smaller
than the second, or if they are equal.
Not Equal To: A relational operator that returns TRUE if and only if the two values in
question are not the same.
Relational Operators: An operator that compares two values and returns TRUE or FALSE.
1.1.5 Boolean Operations in a Programming Language
AND (∧): A boolean operator which returns TRUE (or 1) if and only if all inputs are TRUE (or
1).
Boolean Operators: An operator that compares two boolean values and returns TRUE or
FALSE (1 or 0).
NOT (¬): A boolean operator which returns TRUE (or 1) if and only if the input is FALSE (or
0).
OR (∨): A logical operator which returns TRUE (or 1) if and only if any one of the inputs are
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TRUE (or 1).
XOR: A logical operator which returns TRUE (or 1) if and only if exactly 1 of the inputs are
TRUE (or 1).
1.1.6 Constants and Variables in a Programming Language
Constants: A data item that, once declared, retains the same value for the entire duration of
the program run.
Variables: A data item that, once declared, can be used as a short term memory container
for a temporary value that may change over the duration of the program run.
1.1.7 String-Handling Operations in a Programming Language
Character Code: A binary representation of a character using the rules of a character set
(eg. ASCII or Unicode). Characters can be converted to and from character code.
Concatenation: A function used to merge two strings into a single longer string.
Length: A function that returns the number of characters (including spaces) present in a
given string.
Position: A function that returns the index used to locate and identify a given character in a
string.
String Conversion Operations: Functions used to convert strings to and from other data
types when possible; such as integers, floats and datetime.
Substring: A function used to slice a string to obtain the relevant substring embedded within
the longer string.
1.1.8 Random Number Generation in a Programming Language
Random Number Generation: The process of generating a random number to be used by a
program generally by inputting a value known as the seed into an algorithm.
1.1.9 Exception Handling
Exception Handling: The process of dealing with exceptional events triggered by
circumstances that are inconsistent with what the program was coded for. This is done by
informing the user of the error that has occurred and how it can be rectified in the next run.
1.1.10 Subroutines (Procedures/Functions)
Functions: A subroutine that can be called to perform a task or operation and always returns
a value. They can be called in an expression or be assigned to a variable.
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Procedures: A subroutine that can be called by simply writing its name in the code.
Procedures do not have to return values in a program.
Subroutines (Procedures/Functions): A uniquely named section of code that is written to
perform a specific task within a program that can be called by using its name in a
programming statement.
1.1.11 Parameters of Subroutines
Interface: Code used to describe the data type and characteristics of data being passed
when a subroutine calls another subroutine.
Parameters: The identified data being passed into describing a subroutine. Parameters
contain the arguments (data items) that will be used by the subroutine when it is called.
1.1.13 Local Variables in Subroutines
Local Variables: A variable declared within a subroutine of a program, which only exists and
can only be used within that subroutine.
1.1.14 Global Variables in Subroutines
Global Variables: A variable declared in the main program which exists outside of any of the
subroutines, but can be used anywhere in the program.
1.1.15 Role of Stack Frames in Subroutine Calls
Stack Frames: A collection of data related to a subroutine call that has not yet terminated
with a return. Each frame is pushed onto a stack data structure.
1.1.16 Recursive Techniques
Recursive Technique: A subroutine that refers to itself in its definition.
1.2 Programming Paradigms
1.2.1 Programming Paradigms
Programming Paradigms: A style of computation and programming, chosen according to
the problem at hand.
1.2.2 Structured Programming
Hierarchy Charts: A visual representation of a system design by breaking the most
important elements into smaller sub tasks which can be individually coded (a top-down
structure).
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Structured Approach: A programming approach that relies on four basic structures to
develop a program: assignment, sequence, selection and iteration.
1.2.3 Object-Oriented Programming
Aggregation: The creation of an object consisting of further objects such that these further
objects continue to exist even if the initial object is deleted.
Class Diagrams: A visual representation of the relationships between classes and
subclasses.
Classes: A template defining the attributes and methods that can be used to create a type of
data known as an object.
Composition: The creation of an object consisting of further objects such that these further
objects cease to exist if the initial object is deleted.
Encapsulation: A method of maintaining data integrity by only allowing class methods to
access data in an object’s attributes.
Inheritance: The concept of subclasses inheriting the methods and attributes of its parent
class (a.k.a. its super class).
Instantiation: The creation of an object from a class.
Object Oriented Programming: A programming paradigm where the system is viewed as a
set of objects, each with their own data (attributes) and procedures (methods), that can
interact with each other. All processing is done by objects.
Objects: An instance of a class. The behaviour of this data item depends on how its
attributes were defined.
Overriding: The redefinition of a method in a subclass, replacing the definition of the method
with the same name in the parent class.
Polymorphism: Objects of different classes can use the same method to perform an action.
Definitions with a ‘✢’ taken from AQA AS and A-level Computer Science specification
version 1.5
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