Web Programming Ch. 7
Web Programming Ch. 7
Any computable problem can be solved by executing a series of actions in a specific order A procedure for solving a problem in terms of
the actions to be executed, and the order in which the actions are to be executed
is called an algorithm
Pseudocode
An informal language that helps you develop algorithms Pseudocode is similar to everyday English; its convenient and user friendly, although its not an actual computer programming language
Sequential execution
Execute statements in the order they appear in the code
Transfer of control
Changing the order in which statements execute
Flowchart
A graphical representation of an algorithm or of a portion of an algorithm Drawn using certain special-purpose symbols, such as rectangles, diamonds, ovals and small circles Symbols are connected by arrows called flowlines, which indicate the order in which the actions of the algorithm execute
In a flowchart that represents a complete algorithm, oval symbols containing the words Begin and End represent the start and the end of the algorithm. In a flowchart that shows only a portion of an algorithm, the oval symbols are omitted in favor of using small circle symbols, also called connector symbols. Perhaps the most important flowcharting symbol is the diamond symbol, also called the decision symbol, which indicates that a decision is to be made.
The ifelse statement performs an action if a condition is true and performs a different action if the condition is false.
Double-selection statement because it selects between two different actions or group of actions.
The switch statement performs one of many different actions, depending on the value of an expression.
Multiple-selection statement because it selects among many different actions or groups of actions.
JavaScript provides four repetition statements, namely, while, dowhile, for and forin. In addition to keywords, JavaScript has other words that are reserved for use by the language, such as the values null, true and false, and words that are reserved for possible future use.
Single-entry/single-exit control statements make it easy to build scripts. Control statements are attached to one another by connecting the exit point of one control statement to the entry point of the next.
Control-statement stacking.
characters
blanks, tabs and newlines used for indentation and vertical spacing
A decision can be made on any expression that evaluates to a value of JavaScripts boolean type (i.e., any expression that evaluates to true or false). The indentation convention you choose should be carefully applied throughout your scripts
It is difficult to read scripts that do not use uniform spacing conventions
Allows you to specify that different actions should be performed when the condition is true and when the condition is false.
Closely related to the ifelse statement JavaScripts only ternary operatorit takes three operands The operands together with the ?: operator form a conditional expression The first operand is a boolean expression The second is the value for the conditional expression if the boolean expression evaluates to true Third is the value for the conditional expression if the boolean expression evaluates to false
The JavaScript interpreter always associates an else with the previous if, unless told to do otherwise by the placement of braces ({}) The if selection statement expects only one statement in its body
To include several statements, enclose the statements in braces ({ and }) A set of statements contained within a pair of braces is called a block
A logic error has its effect at execution time. A fatal logic error causes a script to fail and terminate prematurely. A nonfatal logic error allows a script to continue executing, but the script produces incorrect results.
while
Allows you to specify that an action is to be repeated while some condition remains true The body of a loop may be a single statement or a block Eventually, the condition becomes false and repetition terminates
Counter-controlled repetition
Often called definite repetition, because the number of repetitions is known before the loop begins executing
Variables that store totals should normally be initialized to zero before they are used in a script
JavaScript represents all numbers as floatingpoint numbers in memory Floating-point numbers often develop through division The computer allocates only a fixed amount of space to hold such a value, so the stored floating-point value can only be an approximation
Sentinel-controlled repetition
Special value called a sentinel value (also called a signal value, a dummy value or a flag value) indicates the end of data entry Often is called indefinite repetition, because the number of repetitions is not known in advance
Choose a sentinel value that cannot be confused with an acceptable input value
JavaScript provides the arithmetic assignment operators +=, -=, *=, /= and %=, which abbreviate certain common types of expressions.
The increment operator, ++, and the decrement operator, --, increment or decrement a variable by 1, respectively. If the operator is prefixed to the variable, the variable is incremented or decremented by 1, then used in its expression. If the operator is postfixed to the variable, the variable is used in its expression, then incremented or decremented by 1.
When incrementing or decrementing a variable in a statement by itself, the preincrement and postincrement forms have the same effect, and the predecrement and postdecrement forms have the same effect When a variable appears in the context of a larger expression, preincrementing the variable and postincrementing the variable have different effects. Predecrementing and postdecrementing behave similarly.
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