Algorithms

An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions for a computer to follow. Computers follow algorithms exactly as they are written, without 'figuring out' what the coders meant

Computers are not smart and need very specific instructions

But, they can do millions of instructions in a second!

Debugging 

When you test your algorithm in Code Combat, you may notice errors (bugs) in your code

You then adjusted your commands and retested your sequence. This process is called debugging

(The first computer was the size of a classroom, and the first computer error was a moth stuck in the machine - hence the term bug)

Loops & Variables

A loop is a repeated sequence of code

Loops are useful in coding by saving space when you have to repeat commands 

The fewer lines of code you use in a program, the more efficient it is 

A variable is a container (or box) that can store information (like a number, name, or value). A variable can also be a stand-in for an unknown value (like in Math, y=5x)