Chapter 1: Problem 27

_______________ is information a program gathers from the outside world.

Short Answer

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Question: Define input in programming and describe its importance. Answer: In programming, input refers to the information gathered from the outside world, such as user interaction, reading a file, or receiving data from other programs and devices. Input is essential as it helps to determine the program's behavior based on the given information. Without input, a program cannot adapt or respond to changes in the environment or user requirements, making input crucial to tailor a program's functionality.

Step by step solution

Define Input in Programming

In the context of programming, input refers to the information that a program gathers from the outside world. It can come from various sources (e.g., user interaction, reading a file, or receiving data from other programs), and it helps to determine the program's behavior based on this information.

Identify Input Sources

Input can come from multiple sources depending on the purpose of the program. Some common sources include: 1. User interaction: data entered by the user through a keyboard, mouse, or touch inputs. 2. Files: reading data from a file stored on the computer. 3. Devices: gathering data from external devices, such as sensors or networking equipment. 4. Other programs: receiving data from other programs running on the same computer or on a different computer over a network.

Understand Importance of Input

Input plays a crucial role in shaping the outcome of a program. Without input, a program cannot be adaptable or responsive to changes in the environment or user requirements. Proper handling of input allows the program to perform tasks in an appropriate manner based on user preferences, external conditions, and other factors.

Differentiate Input from Output

While input helps a program gather information from the outside world, output is the information that the program sends back to the outside world. Input and output are complementary: a program takes input, processes that input in some way (e.g., performing calculations, making decisions), and generates output to provide feedback or results.

Handling Input in Programming

To work with input data in a program, the following steps are usually involved: 1. Read/Input: Obtain the input data from the source. 2. Process: Perform calculations or operations on the input data, such as computation, sorting, or filtering. 3. Output: Provide the results of the processing to the outside world, either to inform the user or to be sent to another program or device. 4. Respond: Some programs need to respond in real-time to input data, such as adjusting their behavior based on incoming signals or events.

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_______________ is information a program gathers from the outside world.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Define Input in Programming

Identify Input Sources

Understand Importance of Input

Differentiate Input from Output

Handling Input in Programming

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