Plain-English definitions for AI coding

Array

An array is a collection of items stored in a single variable.

Boolean

A Boolean is a data type that can be true or false.

Conditional

A conditional is a statement that performs different actions based on whether a condition is true or false.

Function

A function is a named, reusable block of code that takes some inputs, does something with them, and usually returns a result.

Loop

A loop is a coding structure that repeats a block of code multiple times.

Object

An object is a collection of related data and functions in programming.

String

A string is a sequence of characters used to represent text.

Variable

A variable is a named container that holds a value your code can read and change later.

Dependency

A dependency is a piece of code that another piece of code relies on to function.

IDE

An IDE, or Integrated Development Environment, is software that provides tools for coding.

Node.js

Node.js is a JavaScript runtime for building server-side applications.

npm

npm is a tool for managing JavaScript packages and dependencies.

Package

A package is a reusable bundle of code, written by someone else, that you can drop into your project to save yourself work.

Terminal

The terminal is a text-based window where you type commands to your computer instead of clicking buttons.

API

An API is a set of agreed rules that lets one piece of software ask another for data or get it to do something.

CSS

CSS is a language used to style the appearance of web pages.

DNS

DNS translates domain names into IP addresses for web access.

Framework

A framework is a set of tools and guidelines for building applications.

HTML

HTML is the standard language used to create web pages.

HTTP

HTTP is the set of rules that web browsers and servers use to send requests and responses to each other across the internet.

JavaScript

JavaScript is a programming language used to create interactive web pages.

JSON

JSON is a simple text format for structured data that both people and computers can read.

URL

A URL is the address used to access resources on the web.

Agent

An agent is an AI program that performs tasks or makes decisions based on input data.

Claude Code

Claude Code is Anthropic's command-line AI coding assistant that reads your project, makes changes, and runs commands on your behalf.

Codex

Codex is an AI tool that helps generate code from natural language prompts.

Context window

A context window is the amount of text an AI tool considers at one time.

Hallucination

A hallucination in AI is when a model produces incorrect or nonsensical information.

LLM

An LLM is a large language model, an AI trained on enormous amounts of text that can write, summarise, translate, and reason in language.

Model

A model in AI is a system that learns from data to make predictions or decisions.

Prompt

A prompt is the message you send to an AI model that tells it what you want it to do.

Token

A token is a piece of data that represents something else.

CSV

CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values, a file format for storing data.

Database

A database is software that stores and organises information so an application can save, search, and update it reliably.

Query

A query is a request for data from a database.

Schema

A schema is a blueprint that defines the structure of data.

SQL

SQL is a language used to communicate with databases.

Table

A table is a structured way to organize data in rows and columns.

Branch

A branch is a parallel line of work in Git that lets you make changes without affecting the main project until you are ready.

Commit

A commit is a saved snapshot of your work in Git, with a short message describing what changed.

Git

Git is a tool that tracks every change to your project files so you can save progress, undo mistakes, and work with other people without overwriting their work.

Merge

Merge combines changes from different branches in Git.

Pull request

A pull request is a way to propose changes to a code repository.

Repository

A repository is a storage space for your code and its history.

Code review

A code review is a process where developers check each other's code for quality and errors.

Debugging

Debugging is the process of finding and fixing errors in code.

Deployment

Deployment is the process of releasing code to a live environment.

Environment variable

An environment variable is a piece of configuration your app reads when it starts, kept outside the code so it can change per environment.

Refactoring

Refactoring is the process of improving existing code without changing its functionality.

Testing

Testing is the process of checking code for errors and ensuring it works as intended.