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.