Thumbnail Definition A thumbnail image is a small image that represents a larger one. Thumbnails are often used to provide snapshots of several images in a single space. They are commonly used by digital photo organization programs as well as visual search engines. The term "thumbnail" was originally used to describe physical images or drawings that were miniature in size (roughly the size of a human thumbnail). However, it is now widely used to describe digital images, which are displayed on a...

Class Definition A class is used in object-oriented programming to describe one or more objects. It serves as a template for creating, or instantiating, specific objects within a program. While each object is created from a single class, one class can be used to instantiate multiple objects. Several programming languages support classes, including Java, C++, Objective C, and PHP 5 and later. While the syntax of a class definition varies between programming languages, classes serve the same purp...

Drop Down Menu Definition A drop down menu is horizontal list of options that each contain a vertical menu. When you roll over or click one of the primary options in a drop down menu, a list of choices will "drop down" below the main menu. The most common type of drop down menu is a menu bar. On Windows systems, the menu bar is typically located at the top of each open window. On Macintosh systems, it is fixed at the top of the screen. When you click one of the options in the menu bar, such as ...

Python Definition Python is a high-level programming language designed to be easy to read and simple to implement. It is open source, which means it is free to use, even for commercial applications. Python can run on Mac, Windows, and Unix systems and has also been ported to Java and .NET virtual machines. Python is considered a scripting language, like Ruby or Perl and is often used for creating Web applications and dynamic Web content. It is also supported by a number of 2D and 3D imaging pro...

RDBMS Definition Stands for "Relational Database Management System." An RDBMS is a DBMS designed specifically for relational databases. Therefore, RDBMSes are a subset of DBMSes. A relational database refers to a database that stores data in a structured format, using rows and columns. This makes it easy to locate and access specific values within the database. It is "relational" because the values within each table are related to each other. Tables may also be related to other tables. The rela...

Relational Database Definition A relational database is a database model that stores data in tables. The vast majority of databases used in modern applications are relational, so the terms "database" and "relational database" are often used synonymously. Likewise, most database management systems (DBMSes) are relational database management systems (RDBMSes). Other database models include flat file and hierarchical databases, though these are rarely used. Each table in a relational database cont...

Array Definition An array is a data structure that contains a group of elements. Typically these elements are all of the same data type, such as an integer or string. Arrays are commonly used in computer programs to organize data so that a related set of values can be easily sorted or searched. For example, a search engine may use an array to store Web pages found in a search performed by the user. When displaying the results, the program will output one element of the array at a time. This may...

OOP Definition Stands for "Object-Oriented Programming." OOP (not Oops!) refers to a programming methodology based on objects, instead of just functions and procedures. These objects are organized into classes, which allow individual objects to be grouped together. Most modern programming languages including Java, C/C++, and PHP, are object-oriented languages, and many older programming languages now have object-oriented versions. An "object" in an OOP language refers to a specific type, or "in...

C# Definition C# (pronounced "C Sharp") is a programming language developed by Microsoft. It was introduced in 2002 with version 1.0 of Microsoft's .NET Framework. Since then, C# has gone through several revisions, corresponding with each .NET update. Today, it is one of the most popular programming languages for creating Windows programs and web applications. C# is a derivative of the C programming language and is similar to C++. It uses the same basic operators as C++, is object oriented, cas...

High-Level Language Definition A high-level language is a programming language designed to simplify computer programming. It is "high-level" since it is several steps removed from the actual code run on a computer's processor. High-level source code contains easy-to-read syntax that is later converted into a low-level language, which can be recognized and run by a specific CPU. Most common programming languages are considered high-level languages. Examples include: C++ C# Cobol Fo...