Glossary 3
function call: A statement that executes a function. It consists of the name of the function followed by a list of arguments enclosed in parentheses.
argument: A value provided to a function when the function is called. This value is assigned to the corresponding parameter in the function.
return value: The result of a function. If a function call is used as an expression, the return value is the value of the expression.
type conversion: An explicit statement that takes a value of one type and computes a corresponding value of another type.
type coercion: A type conversion that happens automatically according to Python’s coercion rules.
module: A file that contains a collection of related functions and classes.
dot notation: The syntax for calling a function in another module, specifying the module name followed by a dot (period) and the function name.
function: A named sequence of statements that performs some useful operation. Functions may or may not take arguments and may or may not produce a result.
function definition: A statement that creates a new function, specifying its name, parameters, and the statements it executes.
flow of execution: The order in which statements are executed during a program run.
parameter: A name used inside a function to refer to the value passed as an argument.
local variable: A variable defined inside a function. A local variable can only be used inside its function.
stack diagram: A graphical representation of a stack of functions, their variables, and the values to which they refer.
frame: A box in a stack diagram that represents a function call. It contains the local variables and parameters of the function.
traceback: A list of the functions that are executing, printed when a runtime error occurs.
Glossary 4
modulus operator: An operator, denoted with a percent sign (%), that works on integers and yields the remainder when one number is divided by another.
boolean expression: An expression that is either true or false.
comparison operator: One of the operators that compares two values: ==, !=, >, <, >=, and <=.
logical operator: One of the operators that combines boolean expressions: and, or, and not.
conditional statement: A statement that controls the flow of execution depending on some condition.
condition: The boolean expression in a conditional statement that determines which branch is executed.
compound statement: A statement that consists of a header and a body. The header ends with a colon (:). The body is indented relative to the header.
block: A group of consecutive statements with the same indentation.
body: The block in a compound statement that follows the header.
nesting: One program structure within another, such as a conditional statement inside a branch of another conditional statement.
recursion: The process of calling the function that is currently executing.
base case: A branch of the conditional statement in a recursive function that does not result in a recursive call.
infinite recursion: A function that calls itself recursively without ever reaching the base case. Eventually, an infinite recursion causes a runtime error.
prompt: A visual cue that tells the user to input data.