Glossary

Index · Getting started · Reference

These words are also explained where they are introduced. You can come back here without interrupting the learning journey.

Term	Meaning in this documentation
Program	Instructions saved in files for a computer to perform a task.
Value	A specific piece of information: `12`, `"Ana"`, `true`.
Variable	Name that allows you to save and consult a value; for example `$edad`.
Binding	Association between a name and its value. A constant protects that association, not necessarily the contents of a collection.
Type	Type of data that an operation or variable admits. `int` represents integers.
Inference	Deduction of a type from the value, without writing it explicitly.
Conversion/casting	Obtaining a value in another type using specific rules; you may lose information.
`mixed`	Explicit decision to accept values of different types.
`unknown`	Lack of information from the analyzer; It is not a source type for declaring variables.
`null` / `nil`	Absence of value; both forms produce the same null value.
Nullable	Type that also allows `null`, such as `string
Expression	Code that produces a value: `2 + 3`.
Sentence	Instruction that performs a step: declare, return or repeat.
Block	Group of statements enclosed in braces in a context that expects a body.
Function	Reusable operation that receives data and can return a result.
Parameter	Name and type of data received in the declaration of a function.
Argument	Value delivered when the function is called.
Return	Result that a function returns with `return`.
Callable	Value that the runtime can invoke: function, method or closure, among others. It is not a source keyword.
Scope / scope	Region where a name can be resolved.
Closure	Anonymous function that preserves an environment of variables of its creation.
Recursion	Function that calls itself, directly or indirectly.
Class	Declaration that groups properties and methods.
Instance	Object created from a class using `new`.
Property	Data saved within an instance.
Method	Function associated with a class; called with `->` in an instance or `::` in static context.
Builder	Initialization when creating an instance; Joss supports `Init` in his class contract.
Inheritance	Reusing a base class using `extends`.
Encapsulation	Access control with `public`, `protected` or `private`.
Array	Ordered collection of elements, indexed from scratch; “list” is an explanation, not the type alias `list`.
Map	Collection of keys and values; It is also called a dictionary.
Reference	Access to the same storage. `ref` is also a temporary and restricted ability to modify a caller variable.
Mutability	Possibility of changing a value or the content of a structure.
Shallow copy	Copy of the container that can continue sharing interior elements.
Error / diagnosis	Problem detected; a diagnosis includes location, code and explanation.
Exception	Failure that interrupts the flow and can be recovered with `try/catch`.
Call stack / stack	Sequence of functions that are waiting for another call to finish. Not to be confused with the wrapper class `Stack`.
Heap	Memory for objects whose life is not limited to one call; It is managed by Go, not manually by the Joss program.
Synchrony	An operation ends before continuing with the next.
Concurrency	Various tasks progress during overlapping periods; does not guarantee simultaneous execution.
Asynchrony	An operation allows you to obtain its result later.
Future	Runtime object representing a pending result of `async`; It is not a keyword or canonical source type.
`await`	Blocking wait for the result of a Future in the current execution.
Channel	Channel to send data between tasks and coordinate them.
Runtime	Engine that runs the program and offers integrated services.
Lexer	Component that converts characters into tokens.
Token	Recognized unit: a name, a number, an operator, etc.
Parser	Component that organizes tokens according to syntax.
AST	Tree that represents the structure of the program.
Analyzer / analyzer	Component that checks names, types, and flow before executing.
Interpretation	Execution by reading a representation of the program, such as its AST.
Compilation	Transformation to another representation. In Joss it does not necessarily imply machine code.
Bytecode	Intermediate format. Joss main contains compressed AST; JPBC has instructions for plugins.
Module	Integrated capacity or physical organization; Joss does not have source modules with imports.
Package	Distributable unit with metadata and files.
Plugins	Extension loaded by runtime from a package.
CLI	Program that is controlled by typing commands in a terminal.
Terminal	Window to execute commands and view their output.
HTTP Route	Association between a URL, an HTTP method and responding code.
Controller	Class that prepares the response to a web request.
Middleware	Verification or transformation around a request.
View	Template that converts data to HTML.
Migration	Versioned change of the structure of a database.
Query builder	Object that constructs a query before executing it.
API	A set of operations that another program or component can use.