Coding Terms: 95+ Programming and GitHub Terms Explained

Code♥

Also called: source code

Instructions written in a programming language that tell a computer what to do.

Everyday

Programming language♥

A language for writing code, such as Python, JavaScript, Java or C++.

Everyday

Algorithm♥

A step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem or doing a task.

Everyday

Bug♥

A mistake in code that makes a program behave wrongly or crash.

Everyday

Variable♥

A named box that stores a value, such as a number or text, that a program can use and change.

Everyday

Function♥

Also called: method

A named block of code that does one job and can be reused whenever it is needed.

Everyday

Array

Also called: list

An ordered collection of values stored under one name.

Intermediate

Boolean

A value that can only be true or false.

Intermediate

Comment

A note in code for humans to read. The computer ignores it.

Everyday

Compiler

A program that translates code into machine instructions before it runs.

Advanced

Debugging

Finding and fixing bugs in code.

Everyday

Framework

A larger set of ready-made code and rules that gives an app its structure, such as React or Django.

Intermediate

If statement

Also called: conditional

Code that runs only when a condition is true, such as “if the password is correct, log in”.

Everyday

Integer

Also called: int

A whole number in code, with no decimal point.

Intermediate

Interpreter

A program that runs code line by line without compiling it all first. Python and JavaScript usually work this way.

Advanced

Library

Also called: package

Ready-made code you can add to your project so you do not have to write everything yourself.

Intermediate

Loop

Code that repeats a set of steps, for example once for every item in a list.

Everyday

Object

A bundle of related data and functions, such as a user with a name, an email and a login function.

Intermediate

String

A piece of text in code, such as “Hello”.

Intermediate

Syntax

The grammar rules of a programming language. A syntax error means the code is written incorrectly.

Intermediate

HTML♥

The language that structures web pages: headings, paragraphs, links, images and forms.

Everyday

CSS♥

The language that styles web pages: colours, fonts, spacing and layout.

Everyday

JavaScript♥

Also called: JS

The programming language that makes web pages interactive. It runs in every web browser.

Everyday

API♥

Also called: application programming interface

A set of rules that lets one program ask another for data or actions, like a waiter carrying orders between apps.

Intermediate

Front end♥

Also called: frontend

The part of a website or app that people see and click.

Everyday

404 error

Also called: page not found

The error you see when a web page does not exist or has moved.

Everyday

Back end

Also called: backend

The behind-the-scenes part of an app: servers, databases and the logic users do not see.

Intermediate

Browser developer tools

Also called: DevTools

Built-in browser tools for inspecting a page’s code, styles, network requests and errors.

Intermediate

CMS

Also called: content management system

Software for building and editing websites without coding every page, such as WordPress.

Everyday

DOM

Also called: Document Object Model

The browser’s live map of a web page, which JavaScript can read and change.

Advanced

Full stack

Working on both the front end and the back end of an app.

Intermediate

JSON

A simple text format for sending data between programs, using names and values inside curly brackets.

Intermediate

Localhost

Your own computer acting as a web server while you build and test a site.

Advanced

Request and response

How the web works: a browser sends a request to a server, and the server sends back a response.

Advanced

Responsive design

Building pages that adjust to fit phones, tablets and big screens.

Intermediate

Status code

Also called: HTTP status code

A number a server sends with each response, such as 200 for OK or 404 for not found.

Intermediate

Web app

An app that runs in a web browser instead of being installed.

Everyday

Web hosting

Also called: hosting

A service that stores a website’s files on a server so people can visit it.

Everyday

Git♥

A free tool that tracks every change to your code, so you can go back to any version and work with others safely.

Everyday

GitHub♥

A website that hosts Git projects online, where developers store code, review changes and work together.

Everyday

Repository♥

Also called: repo

A project folder tracked by Git, holding the code and its full history of changes.

Everyday

Commit♥

A saved snapshot of your changes in Git, with a short message describing what changed.

Everyday

Branch♥

A separate line of work in a repository, so you can build a feature without touching the main code until it is ready.

Everyday

Open source♥

Software whose code anyone can see, use, change and share, usually under a licence.

Everyday

.gitignore

A file listing which files Git should not track, such as passwords and temporary files.

Advanced

Clone

Making a full copy of a repository on your own computer.

Intermediate

Diff

A view showing exactly which lines were added or removed between two versions.

Intermediate

Fork

Making your own copy of someone else’s repository on GitHub, so you can change it freely.

Intermediate

Issue

A tracked task, bug report or idea in a GitHub project.

Intermediate

Main branch

Also called: main, master

The primary branch of a repository that holds the official, working version of the code.

Intermediate

Merge

Combining the changes from one branch into another.

Intermediate

Merge conflict

When two changes edit the same lines and Git cannot combine them automatically, so a person must choose.

Advanced

Pull

Downloading the latest changes from the online repository and merging them into your copy.

Intermediate

Pull request

Also called: PR

A request on GitHub to merge your branch into another, so others can review the changes first.

Intermediate

Push

Sending your local commits up to the online repository.

Intermediate

README

The introduction file of a project, explaining what it does and how to use it.

Everyday

Staging area

Also called: index

The holding area where you choose which changes go into the next commit.

Advanced

Version control

Any system that records changes to files over time so you can go back to earlier versions.

Everyday

Database♥

An organised store of data that apps can search and update quickly.

Everyday

Big data

Data sets so large or fast-changing that ordinary tools cannot handle them.

Intermediate

CSV

A plain text file of rows with values separated by commas, which spreadsheets can open.

Everyday

Data science

Using statistics, code and charts to find useful patterns in data.

Intermediate

Data type

What kind of value something is, such as text, number, date or true or false.

Intermediate

Primary key

A column whose value uniquely identifies each row in a table, such as a user ID.

Advanced

Query

A question or command sent to a database, such as “find all orders from today”.

Intermediate

Spreadsheet

A grid of cells for numbers, text and formulas, as in Excel or Google Sheets.

Everyday

SQL

Structured Query Language, used to ask questions of databases and change their data.

Intermediate

Table

Data arranged in rows and columns inside a database.

Everyday

IDE♥

Also called: code editor

An app for writing code with helpers like colour highlighting, error checks and autocomplete. VS Code is a popular one.

Intermediate

Deploy♥

Also called: deployment

Putting a new version of an app or website live for users.

Intermediate

AI coding assistant

An AI tool that suggests, writes or explains code as you work.

EverydayThe best AI tools for coding

Automation

Using code or tools so tasks happen without manual work.

Everyday

CI/CD

Continuous integration and delivery: automatically testing and releasing code every time changes are made.

Advanced

Cloud computing

Renting computing power and storage from big providers over the internet instead of owning servers.

Intermediate

Command

A typed instruction in the terminal, such as cd to change folders.

Intermediate

Container

Also called: Docker

A package holding an app and everything it needs, so it runs the same on any computer.

Advanced

Dependency

A library or package your project needs in order to run.

Advanced

Environment

The setup where code runs, such as development on your laptop, testing, or production for real users.

Advanced

Low-code

Also called: no-code

Tools that let you build apps by dragging blocks and filling forms instead of writing much code.

Everyday

Package manager

A tool that installs and updates code libraries, such as npm or pip.

Advanced

Production

Also called: prod

The live version of an app that real users use.

Intermediate

Script

A short program that automates a task, such as renaming hundreds of files.

Everyday

Terminal

Also called: command line, console

A text window where you type commands to control a computer.

Intermediate

Testing

Also called: unit test

Checking code automatically or by hand to catch bugs before users do.

Intermediate

Agile

A way of building software in short cycles, releasing small improvements often and adjusting based on feedback.

Intermediate

Beta

An early test version of software released to some users before the final launch.

Everyday

Bug report

A description of a problem in software, including the steps to make it happen again.

Everyday

Code review

Other developers reading your changes to catch mistakes and share knowledge before they are merged.

Intermediate

Developer

Also called: programmer, coder

Someone who writes and maintains software.

Everyday

Documentation

Also called: docs

Written guides that explain how software works and how to use it.

Everyday

Hackathon

An event where people build software projects quickly, often over a day or a weekend.

Everyday

MVP

Also called: minimum viable product

The simplest version of a product that is good enough to test with real users.

Intermediate

Release notes

Also called: changelog

A list of what changed in a new version of an app.

Everyday

Scrum

A popular agile method with set roles, daily stand-up meetings and sprints.

Advanced

Software engineer

A developer who designs, builds and tests software systems in a structured way.

Everyday

Sprint

A short, fixed period, often two weeks, in which a team finishes a set of tasks.

Intermediate

Tech stack

Also called: stack

The set of languages, frameworks and tools a project is built with.

Intermediate

Technical debt

Also called: tech debt

Quick or messy shortcuts in code that make future changes slower and riskier until they are cleaned up.

Advanced