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Programming Terms Explained

In this series, we'll do things just a little bit differently. Let's take a step back from our code editors and instead review some fundamental technology and software development terms. I'm willing to bet that there are certain bedrock terms that you somehow accidentally skipped over and never learned properly.

Let's fix that! Each episode below will focus on a single topic, condensed to the essentials, and animated to perfection for your enjoyment.

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Series Info

Episodes
12
Run Time
36m
Difficulty
Beginner
Last Updated
May 1, 2025
Version
Latest
Play Series

Series Episodes

  1. Foundational Terms (9)

    1. What is a Network?

      Networks are vital to modern computing. Without them, well, everything falls apart! A network essentially connects multiple devices so that they can...talk!

    2. What is Addressing?

      When you add a device to a network, it doesn't necessarily know how to talk to other devices. The reason is because it doesn't know the address of the other device!

    3. What is a Server?

      If networks are the roads and highways, then you might call servers the warehouses or service stations on those roads. Let me explain!

    4. What is a Client?

      On the network highway of the world, if servers are like service stations, then clients are the travelers visiting those stations. A client can be a device or piece of software that interacts with the server.

    5. What is HTTP?

      Everything hinges upon HTTP. It stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, and refers to the set of rules that web browsers and servers must follow in order for the web to function.

    6. What is HTTPs?

      By itself, HTTP is incredibly insecure. All of the data is sent in... plain text! This means your information is potentially accessible to anyone who might be listening in. This is where HTTPs comes into play.

    7. What are Switches, Routers, and Firewalls?

      Let's explore the unsung heroes of any network. You’ll learn how switches manage and direct LAN traffic (and how wireless access points extend that to your Wi-Fi gadgets), and how routers serve as junctions between different networks. By the end, you’ll understand how each of these components works together to keep your network running smoothly and securely.

    8. What Is Bandwidth?

      Your network's bandwidth is incredibly important, because it determines how much data can actually flow on your network. You might think that's the speed of your network, but it's not quite that simple.

    9. What Is Latency?

      Network latency measures the round-trip time it takes for data to travel from source to destination and back, which you can check using the ping command.
  2. Software Terms (3)

    1. What Is Version Control?

      Version control lets you track changes to your source code by creating snapshots called commits inside a repository. Using branches, you can safely experiment or build features without messing up the main code.

    2. What is a Frontend and Backend?

      Web apps can include both a frontend (what runs in the browser) and a backend (the server that processes requests). Let's dig into the specific details and differences between the two.

    3. What is a Single-Page Application (SPA)

      Moving on, a single-page app (or SPA) loads the shell and most assets upfront and then uses JavaScript to fetch and swap just the content the user needs so navigation feels fast and lightweight.

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