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Emma Richardson
Emma Richardson

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15 Common Programming Language Terminology: A Key to Success for Junior Developer

Knowing key developer terminology is crucial for beginners as it enhances communication, allowing them to collaborate effectively with peers and seek help confidently. Familiarity with these terms speeds up learning, helping them grasp new concepts faster when reading documentation or following tutorials. It also aids in efficient problem-solving by enabling accurate research and clearer troubleshooting explanations.

Mastering this terminology prepares beginners for job interviews and professional environments where clear, precise communication is expected.

Here is a list of common programming language terminology that applies across many different languages, along with brief descriptions:

General Terms

1. Algorithm: A step-by-step procedure or formula for solving a problem.

2. API (Application Programming Interface): A set of functions and protocols that allow one piece of software to interact with another.

**3. Argument: **A value that is passed to a function when calling it.

**4. Array: **A data structure that holds a collection of items in an ordered sequence, usually of the same type.

**5. Boolean: **A data type that can hold one of two values: true or false.

6. Class: A blueprint for creating objects (a particular data structure), providing initial values for state (member variables or properties), and implementations of behavior (member functions or methods).

7. Compiler: A program that translates source code written in a high-level programming language into machine code.

**8. Constant: **A value that cannot be altered by the program during its execution.

9. Data Structure: A way of organizing and storing data so it can be accessed and worked with efficiently.

10. Declaration: A statement that defines a variable, function, or object in a programming language.

11. Encapsulation: The bundling of data and the methods that operate on the data, restricting direct access to some of an object’s components.

**12. Framework: **A platform or foundation for building software applications, providing a structured environment for development.

13. Function: A block of code that performs a specific task, and can be reused.

14. IDE (Integrated Development Environment): Software that provides comprehensive tools for programming, including a code editor, compiler, debugger, and other features.

**15. Inheritance: **A mechanism in object-oriented programming where a class can inherit methods and properties from another class.

For reading full article read it on my Medium: https://medium.com/@CodingAdventure/30-common-programming-language-terminology-a-key-to-success-for-junior-developer-df64c07d85bc

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