IB Computer Science Key Definitions
The IB Computer Science Key Definitions is a vital reference for IB Computer Science students (both SL and HL), offering a curated collection of critical terminology and phrases aligned with the IB curriculum. Designed to support you in Paper 1, Paper 2, and Paper 3, this resource ensures you have the right language tools at your fingertips.
On this page, you'll find an organized list of essential terms, complete with clear definitions, IB-specific usage, and examiner-focused context that helps you build confidence in understanding and applying subject-specific vocabulary.
With Jojo AI integration, you can reinforce learning through quizzes, contextual examples, or targeted term practice. Perfect for coursework, written assignments, oral exams, or exam preparation, RevisionDojo's IB Computer Science Key Definitions equips you with precise language knowledge to excel in IB assessments.
Key Definitions
A
Abstraction
The process of simplifying complex systems by focusing on essential details while ignoring irrelevant ones.
Access modifiers
Keywords that define the visibility and accessibility of class members (variables and methods).
Accessibility
metric of how the technology or system suits people with some sort of disability
Addition
The process of combining two or more values to produce a result.
Alpha testing
Testing conducted by developers in a controlled environment to catch major bugs before release
Ambient Intelligence
A digital environment that is sensitive, adaptive, and responsive to the presence of people.
Antivirus
Software that detects, prevents, and removes malware.
Arguments
Actual values passed to the parameters when the method is called.
Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
A core digital circuit within the CPU that performs arithmetic and logical operations on binary data
Authentication
The process of verifying the identity of a user or entity.
Automated testing
Testing that uses software tools to execute tests, compare results, and report outcomes automatically without human interaction
Autonomous agent
An entity that can perceive its environment through sensors and act upon it using effectors. They operate with a degree of independence, following algorithms to achieve specific goals
B
Backpropagation
An algorithm used to train neural networks by adjusting the weights of connections between neurons to minimize prediction errors.
Bandwidth
The maximum rate at which data can be transmitted over a network, usually measured in bits per second (bps).
Bandwidth
The rate at which data can be transferred between components or over a network.
Beta testing
Testing that involves a group of real users testing the software in real-world conditions to provide feedback and identify issues
Binary search
A search algorithm that repeatedly divides a sorted list in half to locate a target element.
Bit
The smallest unit of data in a computer, representing a binary value of 0 or 1.
Boolean logic
A branch of algebra that deals with true or false values, represented as 1 and 0 in binary systems
Bubble sort
A sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through the list, compares adjacent elements, and swaps them if they are in the wrong order.
Business merger
The process occurs when two or more companies are combined into a single entity. It usually implies that the systems used in companies separately before should not have any issues when working together.
Byte
Fundamental unit of data storage, which consists of eight bits
C
Central processing unit (CPU)
The primary component of a computer responsible for executing instructions and processing data. It performs arithmetic, logic, control, and input/output operations specified by the instructions in programs.
Centralised control system
A control system that relies on a single central computer to manage all processing and decision-making
