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APPENDIX A Glossary
bug A programming error that makes a program fail to produce the correct result. A bug may make
the program crash, produce an incorrect result, or perform the wrong action.
by reference When you pass a parameter to a method by reference, C# passes the location of the
value’s memory into the method. If the method modifies the parameter, the value is changed in the call-
ing code as well. In C#, use the
ref and out keywords to pass values by reference.
by value When you pass a parameter by value, C# makes a copy of the value and passes the copy to
the method. Changes that the method makes to the value do not affect the value in the calling code.
byte Eight bits. When considered as an unsigned integer, a byte can hold values between 0 and 255.
When considered as a signed integer, a byte can hold values between -127 and 128
C# Pronounced “see sharp.” A general-purpose high-level programming language. It is one of
the programming languages that can run in the powerful Visual Studio integrated development
environment (IDE).
CAD See computer aided design.
camel casing A naming convention where multiple words are strung together with the first letter of
each word except the first capitalized as in
firstNameTextBox or numberOfEmployees.
CancelButton The button triggered in a dialog when the user presses [Esc].
catch When an exception occurs, a program can catch the exception to take control and perform
some remedial action (or just tell the user that something’s wrong). Also when an object raises an
event, the program can catch the event and take action.
class Defines a data type with properties, methods, events, and other code encapsulated in a package.
After you define a class, you can make as many instances of that class as you like. Very similar to a
structure except classes are reference types while structures are value types.
code-behind The event handlers and other code that sits behind a WPF user interface.
comment Text within the program that is not executed by the program. Use comments to make the
code easier to understand.
component A programming entity similar to a control except it has only code and doesn’t have
a visible appearance on the screen. You still place it on a form at design time, however, and the
program’s code can interact with it. Some components such as
ErrorProvider and ToolTip may
display visible effects on the screen.
Component Tray The area below the form where components sit.
compound assignment operators Operators such as += and &= that combine a variable’s current
value with a new value.
computer aided design A program that helps the user design something, often something graphical
such as an architectural drawing or an electronic circuit. Many CAD systems do more than just draw.
For example, they may produce lists of materials, validate electronic circuits, or calculate physical
properties of the system designed.
concatenate Join two strings together.
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