Categorie:Taxonomy/Terminology

In computer science there is only limited terminological agreement. Already for its very name one has the alternatives ‘computing science’ and ‘informatics’. Fundamental terms like ‘state’ or ‘automaton’ or ‘specification’ or even ‘program’ may have different meanings in different contexts. Often such terms are not defined at all (but simply borrowed from common language) or defined in many different ways. This situation is an inevitable reflection of the fact that there is no common understanding of the core of this particular branch of science, let alone a basic understanding among the general public.

In particular software engineering has produced an abundance of points of view, of terms and of notions which sometimes look all alike and all different. What is the difference, if any, between a program and an algorithm? What is a system? When is it appropriate to call something a module?

In the scientific literature as well as in manuals, the reader may find:

different terms for the same concept

for example subroutine, procedure, subprogram

the same term for entirely different concepts

for example function; specification

the same term for slightly different concepts

where some essential difference may me hidden, for example parameter

ill-defined terms

whose definitions are vague or contradictory

Disclaimer

This Taxonomy of Computer Science defines a consistent set of concepts, derived in a systematic way. It does not attempt to establish a canonical terminology. Name clashes are unavoidable.

The reader should understand that the definitions in this category do not intend to introduce better names for known concepts.