GCSE Computer Science

Translators are needed to translate programs written in high level languages into the machine code that a computer understands. Tools exist to help programmers develop error-free code.

Sorting and searching are two of the most frequently needed algorithms in program design. Standard algorithms have evolved to take account of this need.

Programs are created using common building blocks, known as programming constructs. These programming constructs form the basis for all programs and are also used in algorithms.

Computer systems are a combination of both hardware and software working together. Hardware is the physical components of a computer and software is the programs that run on a computer.

Programs use data, known as ‘values’. Variables hold values. Each variable in a program must have a data type. Sometimes a programmer needs to store a lot of related data. To do this they use structures such as arrays.

Programs are designed and implemented using common building blocks, known as programming constructs. These constructs are sequence, selection and iteration and they form the basis for all programs.