abstract data type (ADT) a data type whose properties (domain and operations) are specified independently of any particular implementation
abstract step a step for which some implementation details remain unspecified
abstraction barrier the invisible wall around a class object that encapsulates implementation details. The wall can be breached only through the public interface
actual parameter a variable or expression listed in a call to a function
aggregate operation an operation on a data structure as a whole, as opposed to an operation on an individual component of the data structure
algorithm a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem in a finite amount of time
anonymous type a type that does not have an associated type identifier
arithmetic/logic unit (ALU) the component of the central processing unit that performs arithmetic and logical operations
array a collection of components, all of the same type, ordered on N dimensions (N> 1). Each component is accessed by N indices, each of which represents the component's position within that dimension.
assembler a program that translates an assembly language program into machine code
assembly language a low-level programming language in which a mnemonic is used to represent each of the machine language instructions for a particular computer
assignment expression a C++ expression with (1) a value and (2) the side effect of storing the expression value into a memory location
assignment statement a statement that stores the value of an expression into a variable
automatic variable a variable for which memory is allocated and deallocated when control enters and exits the block in which it is declared
auxiliary storage device a device that stores data in encoded form outside the computer's main memory
B
base address the memory address of the first element of an array
base case the case for which the solution can be stated nonrecursively
base class (superclass) the class being inherited from
binary operator an operator that has two operands
black box an electrical or mechanical device whose inner workings are hidden from view
C
central processing unit (CPU) the part of the computer that executes the instructions (program) stored in memory; made up of the arithmetic/logic unit and the control unit
class a structured type in a programming language that is used to represent an abstract data type
class member a component of a class. Class members may be either data or functions.
class object (class instance) a variable of a class type
client software that declares and manipulates objects of a particular class
communication complexity a measure of the quantity of information passing through a module's interface
