The basics of computer programming involve understanding a few key concepts and elements:
- Algorithms: An algorithm is a set of instructions that a computer can follow to perform a specific task. Programming involves the creation of algorithms to solve problems and accomplish tasks.
- Data types and variables: Different types of data, such as numbers and text, have specific storage requirements, and programming languages have specific syntax for defining and using data types and variables.
- Control structures: These are structures, such as loops and conditional statements, that allow the programmer to control the flow of execution of a program.
- Syntax and semantics: Every programming language has its own set of rules for how to structure code, called its syntax, and the meaning of the code, called semantics. Understanding the syntax and semantics of a programming language is essential to being able to write functional code.
- Functions and procedures: A function is a block of code that can be called repeatedly to perform a specific task, it can also accept input parameters and return results. A procedure is a sequence of instructions that performs a specific task but does not return any values.
- Memory management: Memory management is a fundamental aspect of programming, and understanding how to properly use memory can help prevent errors and improve the performance of a program.
- Input and Output: A program should be able to accept input from the user or from external sources and produce output in the desired format.
- Debugging and testing: As with any complex system, computer programs will contain errors and bugs, and the process of identifying and fixing these errors is called debugging. Testing is the process of evaluating a system or its component(s) with the intent to find whether it satisfies the specified requirements or not.
These concepts form the foundation of computer programming and are common to many programming languages. However, the specifics of how these concepts are implemented can vary from language to language. Understanding these basics concepts will help you to develop programs that are robust, efficient and maintainable.