Glossary of Terms

This glossary defines key terms and acronyms used throughout the Full Stack Learning Hub.

A

• API (Application Programming Interface): A set of rules that allows different software applications to communicate with each other. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, API Authentication Guide, Building AI Ready APIs Guide, APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet, Library API Code Examples
• Asynchronous: A programming pattern where operations can occur independently of the main program flow, allowing tasks to run in the background (e.g., JavaScript async/await). See also: JavaScript Basics Cheat Sheet, JavaScript Functions Guide
• Authentication: The process of verifying the identity of a user or system. See also: API Authentication Guide, OAuth2 and Token Management Guide, Auth Utilities
• Authorization: The process of determining what an authenticated user is allowed to do. See also: API Authentication Guide, OAuth2 and Token Management Guide

B

• Backend: The server-side of an application that handles business logic, database operations, and API endpoints. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, Flask Advanced Features Guide, Library API Code Examples
• Big O Notation: A mathematical notation used to describe the efficiency of an algorithm, specifically how its runtime or space requirements scale with the size of the input. See also: Big O Notation Cheat Sheet, Algorithms Guide
• Blueprint (Flask): A way to organize a group of related views and other code. Blueprints register operations on an application later when they are registered on the application. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, Library API Flask Patterns Guide, Blueprint Examples
• Bootstrap: A popular CSS framework for developing responsive and mobile-first websites. See also: Bootstrap Cheat Sheet, HTML Cheat Sheet

C

• Callback: A function passed as an argument to another function, to be executed at a later time. See also: JavaScript Functions Guide, JavaScript Basics Cheat Sheet
• CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment): A method to frequently deliver apps to customers by introducing automation into the stages of app development. See also: CI/CD Pipeline Guide
• Client-Side: Code that runs in the user’s web browser rather than on a server. See also: JavaScript Basics Cheat Sheet, DOM Manipulation Guide, React Basics Guide
• CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing): A security mechanism that allows or restricts resources on a web page to be requested from another domain. See also: Flask Advanced Features Guide, API Authentication Guide
• CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete): The four basic operations of persistent storage. See also: SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, Flask REST API Development Guide
• CSS (Cascading Style Sheets): A language used to describe the presentation and styling of HTML documents. See also: CSS Cheat Sheet, CSS Layout Guide, Bootstrap Cheat Sheet

D

• Database: An organized collection of structured data, typically stored electronically in a computer system. See also: SQL DDL Guide, SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, SQL and SQLAlchemy Cheat Sheet
• Debugging: The process of finding and fixing errors or bugs in code. See also: Testing and Debugging Cheat Sheet, Error Handling Cheat Sheet, Python API Testing Guide
• Deployment: The process of making an application available for use, typically by moving it to a production environment. See also: CI/CD Pipeline Guide, Docker and Containerization Guide, Library API Production Workflow Guide
• Docker: A platform for developing, shipping, and running applications in containers. See also: Docker and Containerization Guide, CI/CD Pipeline Guide
• DOM (Document Object Model): A programming interface for web documents that represents the page structure as a tree of objects. See also: DOM Manipulation Guide, JavaScript Basics Cheat Sheet, HTML Cheat Sheet

E

• Endpoint: A specific URL in an API where a resource can be accessed. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, API Authentication Guide, Blueprint Examples
• Environment Variables: Variables stored outside of your code that can change depending on the environment (development, testing, production). See also: Flask Advanced Features Guide, Library API Production Workflow Guide
• Express: A minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework. See also: Modern Fullstack Guide

F

• Framework: A platform providing a foundation of pre-written code to help build and deploy applications more efficiently. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, React Basics Guide, Modern Fullstack Guide
• Frontend: The client-side of an application that users interact with directly, typically involving HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. See also: React Basics Guide, Modern React Ecommerce Guide, DOM Manipulation Guide, Portfolio Web Development Guide, React Starter Code
• Function: A reusable block of code designed to perform a specific task. See also: JavaScript Functions Guide, Python Basics Cheat Sheet, Functional Programming Cheat Sheet

G

• Git: A distributed version control system for tracking changes in source code during software development. See also: CI/CD Pipeline Guide, Library API Production Workflow Guide
• GitHub: A web-based platform for version control and collaboration using Git. See also: CI/CD Pipeline Guide
• GraphQL: A query language for APIs and a runtime for executing those queries with existing data. See also: GraphQL Integration Guide

H

• HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The standard markup language for creating web pages. See also: HTML Cheat Sheet, Portfolio Web Development Guide, DOM Manipulation Guide
• HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol): The protocol used for transmitting data over the web. See also: APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet, Flask REST API Development Guide
• HTTPS (HTTP Secure): An encrypted version of HTTP that provides secure communication over a network. See also: API Authentication Guide, APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet

I

• IDE (Integrated Development Environment): A software application that provides comprehensive facilities for software development.
• Inheritance: An object-oriented programming concept where a class derives properties and methods from another class. See also: OOP Cheat Sheet, Python Basics Cheat Sheet
• IP Address: A unique numerical identifier assigned to each device connected to a network.

J

• JavaScript: A high-level programming language commonly used for creating interactive web pages. See also: JavaScript Basics Cheat Sheet, JavaScript Objects Arrays Cheat Sheet, JavaScript Functions Guide, JavaScript Workshops Guide, DOM Manipulation Guide
• JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight data interchange format that’s easy for humans to read and write. See also: APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet, JavaScript Objects Arrays Cheat Sheet
• JWT (JSON Web Token): A compact, URL-safe means of representing claims to be transferred between two parties for authentication. See also: API Authentication Guide, OAuth2 and Token Management Guide

K

• Kubernetes: An open-source container orchestration platform for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. See also: Docker and Containerization Guide, CI/CD Pipeline Guide

L

• Library: A collection of pre-written code that developers can use to optimize tasks. See also: Standard Library Essentials Cheat Sheet
• Linux: An open-source operating system commonly used for servers and development environments. See also: Docker and Containerization Guide
• Load Balancing: Distributing network traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed. See also: Library API Advanced Architecture Guide

M

• Middleware: Software that acts as a bridge between an operating system or database and applications, often used in web servers to process requests. See also: Flask Advanced Features Guide, Library API Flask Patterns Guide
• Migration: The process of moving data or changing database schema in a controlled way. See also: SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, SQL DDL Guide, Library API Production Workflow Guide
• MVC (Model-View-Controller): A software architectural pattern that separates an application into three interconnected components. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, Library API Flask Patterns Guide

N

• Node.js: A JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine, allowing JavaScript to run on the server-side. See also: Modern Fullstack Guide
• NoSQL: A category of database management systems that don’t use traditional relational database structures. See also: SQL and SQLAlchemy Cheat Sheet
• NPM (Node Package Manager): The default package manager for Node.js, used to install and manage JavaScript packages. See also: React Starter Code, Modern Fullstack Guide

O

• ORM (Object-Relational Mapping): A programming technique that converts data between incompatible type systems in object-oriented programming languages. See also: SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, SQLAlchemy Relationships Guide, SQLAlchemy Advanced Patterns Guide, Pet Clinic ORM Project Guide, ORM Models
• OAuth: An open standard for access delegation, commonly used for token-based authentication. See also: OAuth2 and Token Management Guide, API Authentication Guide

P

• Package Manager: A tool that automates the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing software packages. See also: React Starter Code, Library API Requirements
• Promise: A JavaScript object representing the eventual completion or failure of an asynchronous operation. See also: JavaScript Functions Guide, JavaScript Basics Cheat Sheet
• Python: A high-level, interpreted programming language known for its readability and versatility. See also: Python Basics Cheat Sheet, OOP Cheat Sheet, Functional Programming Cheat Sheet, Standard Library Essentials Cheat Sheet, Python CLI Applications Guide

Q

• Query: A request for data or information from a database. See also: SQL Advanced Queries Guide, SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, SQL and SQLAlchemy Cheat Sheet
• Query String: Parameters added to the end of a URL to send additional information to the server. See also: APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet, Flask REST API Development Guide

R

• React: A JavaScript library for building user interfaces, particularly single-page applications. See also: React Basics Guide, Modern React Ecommerce Guide, Modern Fullstack Guide, React Starter Code
• Recursion: A programming technique where a function calls itself to solve smaller instances of the same problem. See also: Algorithms Guide, Data Structures Cheat Sheet
• REST (Representational State Transfer): An architectural style for providing standards between computer systems on the web. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, Building AI Ready APIs Guide, APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet, Library API Code Examples
• Routing: The mechanism by which requests are directed to the code that handles them in a web application. See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, React Basics Guide, Blueprint Examples

S

• Schema: The organization or structure for a database or API response. See also: SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, SQL DDL Guide, Library API Flask Patterns Guide, Schema Examples
• Server: A computer or program that provides functionality or resources to other programs or devices (clients). See also: Flask REST API Development Guide, Library API Production Workflow Guide
• SQL (Structured Query Language): A programming language used to manage and manipulate relational databases. See also: SQL and SQLAlchemy Cheat Sheet, SQL DDL Guide, SQL Advanced Queries Guide
• SQLAlchemy: The Python SQL toolkit and Object Relational Mapper that gives application developers the full power and flexibility of SQL. See also: SQL and SQLAlchemy Cheat Sheet, SQLAlchemy CRUD Guide, SQLAlchemy Relationships Guide, SQLAlchemy Advanced Patterns Guide, ORM Models
• State: Data that represents the current condition of an application or component. See also: React Basics Guide, Modern React Ecommerce Guide

T

• TDD (Test-Driven Development): A software development process relying on the repetition of a very short development cycle: first the developer writes an (initially failing) automated test case that defines a desired improvement or new function, then produces the minimum amount of code to pass that test. See also: Testing and Debugging Cheat Sheet, Python API Testing Guide, Test Examples
• TypeScript: A typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript, adding optional static typing. See also: Modern Fullstack Guide

U

• UI (User Interface): The means by which a user interacts with a computer, application, or website. See also: React Basics Guide, HTML Cheat Sheet, CSS Cheat Sheet, Portfolio Web Development Guide
• URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The address used to access resources on the internet. See also: APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet, Flask REST API Development Guide
• UX (User Experience): The overall experience a user has when interacting with a product or service. See also: Portfolio Web Development Guide, Modern React Ecommerce Guide

V

• Version Control: A system that records changes to files over time so you can recall specific versions later. See also: CI/CD Pipeline Guide, Library API Production Workflow Guide
• Virtual Environment (venv): A self-contained directory tree that contains a Python installation for a particular version of Python, plus a number of additional packages. See also: Python Basics Cheat Sheet, Library API Production Workflow Guide

W

• Webpack: A module bundler for JavaScript applications that bundles assets, scripts, images, and styles. See also: Modern Fullstack Guide, React Starter Code
• WebSocket: A computer communications protocol, providing full-duplex communication channels over a single TCP connection. See also: Real Time Web Guide

X

• XML (eXtensible Markup Language): A markup language that defines rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. See also: APIs and Requests Cheat Sheet

Y

• YAML (YAML Ain’t Markup Language): A human-readable data serialization language commonly used for configuration files. See also: Docker and Containerization Guide, CI/CD Pipeline Guide

Z

• Zero-Day: A software vulnerability that is unknown to those who should be interested in mitigating it.