Code Literacy vocabulary
Read code with confidence. 28 hand-written terms with real workplace examples.
Learn code literacy terms every day.
One hand-written term. A real workplace example. Thirty seconds before your day gets loud.
Variable
In code, a named slot that holds a value the program can change as it runs.
String
In code, text data wrapped in quotes, used wherever words or characters appear.
Integer
In code, a whole number used for counts, indexes, and math without a fractional part.
Boolean
In code, a true or false value that drives conditions and branching logic.
Array
In code, an ordered collection of values in one variable, accessed by position.
Object
In code, a structured bundle of named fields (often key to value pairs) that group related data.
Function
In code, a reusable named block that takes inputs, runs steps, and often returns a result.
Loop
In code, a control structure that repeats work for each item or until a condition stops it.
Conditional
In code, a branch that runs different paths based on a true or false test, often written with if and else.
Null
In code, the intentional or accidental absence of a value, often written null, nil, or None.
Exception
In code, a runtime failure the system raises when something goes wrong and normal flow cannot continue.
Debugging
Finding and fixing a defect: the bug is the wrong behavior, and debugging is the hunt for its cause.
Class
In code, a blueprint that bundles data and behavior into a custom type you can create instances from.
Parameter
In code, a named placeholder in a function definition; the argument is the actual value you pass in when calling it.
Return Value
In code, the output a function hands back to its caller when it finishes.
Module
A reusable bundle of code, built-in or third-party, that you import into a project.
API
A defined contract for how two pieces of software request and exchange data.
JSON
A common text format for structured data on the web, built from objects and arrays.
Database
A persistent store of structured data; a query is the request you send to read or change it.
IDE
The application where you read and edit code, such as Xcode, VS Code, or JetBrains.
Terminal
A text interface to the operating system for running scripts, tools, and commands.
Version Control
A system that tracks every change to files so you can review, revert, and branch safely. Git is the common tool.
Repository
A folder of project files tracked by version control, often hosted on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket.
Code Context
The surrounding files and snippets an AI coding tool uses to ground its answer, separate from your natural-language prompt.
Context Window
The limited amount of text an AI model can consider at once; when it fills up, earlier code may be dropped.
Dependency
External code your project relies on; risky or outdated dependencies are a common review finding.
Framework
A larger library that shapes how you build an app, such as SwiftUI, React, or Django.
Deployment
The pipeline that turns source code into a running app: build, test, and ship to users.
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