CS201 Midterm Short Notes Set 3

#includes:

The #include directive instructs the preprocessor to read and include a file into a source code file. The file name is typically enclosed with < and > if the file is a system provided file, or in quotes if the file is user provided.

Abstract class:

A class that can only be used as a base class for some other class. A class is abstract if it has at least one pure virtual function.

Aggregate:

An array or object of a class with no constructors, no private or protected members, no base classes, and no virtual functions. Also see initializer and initialization.

Alias:

Defining an alias for a structure or built-in type allows use of the alias as if it were a new type. In C, the keyword is typedef. It's a bad idea to alias (have two objects pointing to the same data) unless one of those objects is a temporary variable.

Allocation:

The process of giving memory space to an object. Also see dynamic storage, static storage, and deallocation

Argument:

When calling a function, refers to the actual values passed to the function. Also see parameter.

Array:

An ordered and indexable sequence of values. C++ supports arrays of a single dimension (a vector) or of multiple dimensions.

Assignment:

The process of giving a value to a pre-existing object. Also see copy constructor and initialization.

Base class:

A class that serves as a base for a derived class to inherit members from. Also see inheritance.

Bit:

A bit is the smallest unit of memory that can be manipulated. It has a binary or boolean value of 0 or 1. Within memory bits are combined to form bytes and words. Depending on its type, a variable in a program is stored in some number of bytes.

Bool:

C++ keyword used to declare a Boolean data type.

Break:

C++ keyword used to specify a statement that is used to break out of a for or while loop or out of a switch statement.

Byte:

A byte is a grouping of eight bits which a computer typically groups as one logical unit. It is usually the smallest addressable unit of memory.

Call by reference:

Passing a pointer to an argument to a function. The function can then change the argument value. Also see call by value.

Call by value:

Passing a copy of an argument to a function. The function cannot then change the argument value. C and C++ use call by value argument passing. But also see pointer and reference, also see call by reference.

Case:

A C++ keyword used to denote an individual element of a switch statement.

Char:

A C++ keyword used to declare an object of character type. Often considered the same as a byte, though it is possible to have multi-byte characters.

cin: In C++ stream I/O, the standard input stream.

Class:

A C++ keyword used to declare the fundamental building block of C++ programs. A class has a tag, members, access control mechanisms, and so on.

Class layout:

The way in which data class members are arranged in a class object

Class member:

A constituent member of a class, such as a data declaration, a function, or a nested class.

Class template:

A template used for generating class types.