Glossary 297element A single item in a list or array.
event An activity that a computer can detect, like a mouse
click, value change, keypress, timer tick, and so on. Statements or
functions that respond to events are called event handlers or event
listeners.
expression Any valid set of values, variables, operators, and
functions that produces a value or result.
file A collection of data or information stored by a computer on
some kind of storage device, like a hard disk, DVD, or USB drive.
for loop A programming statement that allows a block of code to
be repeated for a given range of values.
frame A single image in a moving sequence for animation, video,
or computer graphics.
frames per second (fps) The rate or speed that images are
drawn on the screen in an animation, video game, or movie.
function A named, reusable set of programming statements to
perform a specific task.
import To bring reusable code or data into a program from
another program or module.
index An element’s position in a list or array.
initialize To give a variable or object its first, or initial, value.
input Any data or information entered into a computer; input
can come from a keyboard, mouse, microphone, digital camera, or
any other input device.
iterative versioning Repeatedly making small changes or
improvements to a program and saving it as a new version, like
Game1, Game2, and so on.
keyword A special, reserved word that means something in a
particular programming language.
list A container for an ordered group of values or objects.
loop A set of instructions that is repeated until a condition is
reached.