Operating systemAn operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, peripherals, and other resources.
Programming languageA programming language is an engineered language for expressing computer programs, typically allowing software to be written in a human readable manner. Execution of a program requires an implementation. There are two main approaches for implementing a programming language – compilation, where programs are translated ahead-of-time to machine code, and interpretation, where programs are directly executed.
CompilerIn computing, a compiler is software that translates computer code written in one programming language (the source language) into another language (the target language). The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that translate source code from a high-level programming language to a low-level programming language (e.g., assembly language, object code, or machine code) to create an executable program.
Call stackIn computer science, a call stack is a stackdata structure that stores information about the active subroutines and inline blocks of a computer program. This type of stack is also known as an execution stack, program stack, control stack, run-time stack, or machine stack, and is often shortened to simply the "stack".
Compiled languageInformally, a compiled language is a programming language that is usually implemented with a compiler rather than an interpreter. Because any language can theoretically be either compiled or interpreted, the term lacks clarity: compilation and interpretation are properties of a programming language implementation, not of a programming language. Some languages have both compilers and interpreters.
Computer programmingComputer programming is the composition of sequences of instructions, called programs, that computers can follow to perform tasks. It involves designing and implementing algorithms, step-by-step specifications of procedures, by writing code in one or more programming languages. Programmers typically use high-level programming languages that are more easily intelligible to humans than machine code, which is directly executed by the central processing unit.Compile timeIn computing, compile time is the period of time when a compiler processes source code into other code that is more readily executable – typically object code or byte code. Compile time is a phase in the operational life cycle of a program as it transitions from development to execution. The length of time it takes to compile is usually referred to as compilation time although compile time might also be used. Compile time can be subdivided by the phases of a compiler.
Memory managementMemory management (also dynamic memory management, dynamic storage allocation, or dynamic memory allocation) is a form of resource management applied to computer memory. The essential requirement of memory management is to provide ways to dynamically allocate portions of memory to programs at their request, and free it for reuse when no longer needed.Function (computer programming)In computer programming, a function (also procedure, method, subroutine, routine, or subprogram) is a callable unit of software logic that has a well-formed interface and behavior and can be invoked multiple times. Callable units provide a powerful programming tool. The primary purpose is to enable the decomposition of a large and/or complicated problem into chunks that have relatively low cognitive load.Variable (high-level programming language)In some high-level programming languages, a variable is an abstract storage or indirection location paired with an associated symbolic name, which contains some known or unknown quantity of data or object referred to as a value; or in simpler terms, a variable is a named container for a particular set of bits or type of data (like integer, float, string, etc...) or undefined.
Computer memoryComputer memory stores information, such as data and programs, for immediate use in the computer; instructions fetched by the computer, and data fetched and stored by those instructions, are located in computer memory. The terms memory, main memory, and primary storage are also used for computer memory. Computer memory is often referred to as RAM, meaning random-access memory, although some older forms of computer memory, such as drum memory, are not random-access.Execution (computing)In computing, execution is a process by which a computer program is read by a computer and the computer performs the actions encoded in the program. As the processor follows the program instructions, effects are produced in accordance with the semantics of those instructions. The term run is generally synonymous with execute. The act of starting execution is often called launching or invoking in addition to executing and running. An execution processor comes in many forms.
run-timeRelated word or term.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.