What are the basic fundamental concepts of programming?

Key takeaways:

  • Programming fundamentals include core concepts like variables, syntax, data types, flow control, and debugging which are common across all programming languages.

  • Variables store data, have types and scope, and can be modified during execution.

  • Data types such as strings, integers, and booleans and structures like stacks and trees help in organizing and managing data.

  • Flow control structures like sequential, selection, and iteration guide program execution, with loops enabling repetitive tasks.

  • Debugging helps identify and fix errors like syntax and logic issues, and IDEs improve coding efficiency with features like code completion and error detection.

The fundamental concepts of programming form the foundation upon which all software development is built. These concepts are universal across programming languages and frameworks.

Irrespective of the programming language we choose to learn, the basic concepts of programming are similar across languages. Some of these concepts include:

  • Variable declaration

  • Basic syntax

  • Data types and structures

  • Flow control structures

  • Iteration (Loops)

  • Functional programming

  • Debugging

We will use Python to see examples for each concept.

Variable declaration

Variables are containers for storing data values, a memory location for a data type. Variables are created using a declaration or keyword that varies across languages. Here are some of the key points related to the variable declaration:

  • Variable names are usually alphanumeric, containing a–z and 0-9. They can also include special characters like underscores.

  • Variables can hold values of any data type supported by the programming language, and their values may change during program execution.

  • Variables have a defined scope (local or global), which affects where they can be accessed.

x = 5
message = "Hello, world!"

Basic syntax

Every programming language has its syntax, and we must learn the fundamental syntax of the language we are learning.

Syntax refers to the set of rules that define the structure of a language. It is almost impossible to read or understand a programming language without its syntax.

For example, let’s see the syntax to print a simple Hello, world!

# This is a comment
print("Hello, world!")

Syntax errors occur when the code breaks the syntax rules, preventing the program from running.

Data types and structures

Data types refer to the classification of data. The most common data types include:

  • String

  • Boolean (true or false)

  • Numbers, which include integers (whole numbers from 1) and floating-point numbers (decimal-base)

  • Characters (includes single alphabets or numbers)

  • Arrays (a collection of data, usually of the same data type)

# Integer
num = 5
# Floating-point number
num1  = 3.14
# String
name = "John"
# List
fruits = ["Mango", "Banana", "Strawberry"]
# Tuple
coordinates = (10, 40)
# Dictionary
person = {"name": "Keith", "age": 25}

Data structures refer to ways of organizing and storing data that allow for efficient access and modification. Common data structures include:

  • Stacks

  • Heaps

  • Trees

  • Linked lists

  • Queues

  • Tables

  • Graphs

Flow control structures

Flow control structures are the fundamental components of computer programs. They are commands that allow a program to “decide” to take one direction or another.

There are three basic types of control structures: sequential, selection, and iteration.

1. Sequential

The most basic control flow is sequential control flow. It involves the execution of code statements one after the other. A real-world example is following a cooking recipe.

Flow chart for sequential control structure

2. Selection (conditionals)

The basic premise of selection flow control is, the computer decides what action to perform based on the result of a test or condition equalling true or false.

Flow chart for selection control structure

Let’s see a coding example:

x = 5
if x <  5:
    print("x is less than 5")
else:
    print("x greater than or equal to 5")

3. Iteration (Loops)

A loop is a programming structure that allows a statement or block of code to be run repeatedly until a specified condition is no longer true (will return Boolean, true or false). It is one of the most powerful and fundamental programming concepts.

Flow chart for iteration control structure

Let’s see a coding example:

for i in range(10):
    print("Iteration", i+1)

Functional programming

Functions are containers that take in a set of inputs and return an output. It is not required for a function to get input values or return a value, though. Pure functions will always give the same result for the same set of inputs.

Functional Programming is a straightforward method of building software that involves using pure functions. This method eliminates the occurrence of data mutation or side effects.

Let’s see an example:

# Define a list of numbers
numbers = [2,5,6,8,9]
# Define a function to calculate cube of a number
def cube(x):
    return x * x * x
# Initialize an empty list to store squared numbers
cube_of_numbers = []
# Use a loop to apply the cube function to each element in the numbers list
for num in numbers:
    cube_of_numbers.append(cube(num))
# Print the squared numbers
print(cube_of_numbers)

Object-oriented programming

Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is a programming concept that revolves around “objects” and “methods.”

There are four principles of OOP:

Want to learn more about OOP, check out our detailed blog on “What is object-oriented programming (OOP)?”

Debugging

Debugging is a crucial skill. It involves detecting and removing existing and potential errors, defects, or “loopholes” in one’s code. Understanding the common errors and knowing how to debug them is essential for any programmer.

Here are some of the most common types of errors you might face while programming:

  • Syntax errors: Occur when the code violates the language’s syntax rules.
  • Runtime errors: Occur when the program runs, such as trying to divide by zero.
  • Logic errors: Occur when the code runs without errors but produces incorrect results.
  • Debugging tools: Tools like Python’s pdb debugger help trace errors and examine code behavior.

IDEs and coding environments

IDE stands for Integrated Development Environment. These are applications programmers use to write code and organize text groups. IDE increases a programmer’s efficiency and productivity and has added features like code completion, code compilation, debugging, syntax highlighting, etc.

Some common examples of IDE’s are:

  • Visual Studio code
  • IntelliJ IDEA
  • NetBeans
  • Eclipse

Always remember to write clean, readable codes.

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Frequently asked questions

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What are the 3 basic programming concepts?

In my opinion, the three basic programming concepts are control flow, data structures, and functions. Control flow dictates how the program executes, data structures organize and manage data efficiently, and functions break the code into manageable, reusable blocks. Understanding these concepts is essential for writing clean and efficient code.

What is the general concept of programming language?

A programming language is a set of rules that enables humans to communicate instructions to a computer. It provides syntax and semantics to write programs.

What are different types of data types?

Data types include integers, floats, strings, booleans, arrays, and objects, each representing different kinds of values and behaviors in a program.

What are variables in programming?

Variables are named containers that store data values in a program, allowing values to be changed during execution based on logic or user input.

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